Keonjhar: Even as private buses that offer all sorts of comforts are drawing more passengers, buses run by the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) are still very much in demand on certain routes.
However, resentment is growing among the passengers as the authorities don’t pay heed to meet their basic needs and care for minimum maintenance. The attitude of the government officials has come to such a pass that passengers were seen holding umbrellas inside buses to get respite from rain, a report said.
The Keonjhar zone of OSRTC, once considered to be a profitable zone, is incurring losses due to the negligence of the corporation. Two important routes – Keonjhar-Cuttack (non-stop) and Barbil-Kolkata – were earlier considered the cash cow of the department. While the buses had stopped plying on other routes, these two routes were kept operational. But the antipathy among the passengers of Keonjhar-Cuttack route is gradually increasing due to the miserable condition of the buses.
“The negligence of OSRTC officials has crossed all limits with passengers carrying umbrellas with them to due to dripping of rainwater from the roof of the buses,” lamented Jitendra Sahoo, a passenger of Ghatagaon. Sahoo said he likes to travel in government buses but he is gradually losing interest due to poor maintenance of the vehicles.
Similarly, the windows of the buses are in such a condition that they create deafening noise once the vehicles start moving. The passengers who get window-side seats often bear the brunt in rainy season in the absence of windowpanes. It is better not to mention the level comfort the passengers get sitting on the torn cushion, said another passenger.
Besides, shortage of staff has also affected the quality of service. In the absence of adequate number of helpers and drivers, contractual helpers have been appointed to help passengers with their luggage with the conductor donning the driver’s hat.
Arabinda Behera, a member of the employees’ union, said the department is not maintaining the vehicles as the service has been leased out to private operators. However, the move is helping the private bus owners with the loyal government bus passengers turning towards them.
District transport manager of OSRTC, NN Patra, said measures are being taken to introduce more buses to meet the passengers’ demand.
PNN
