Drivers, conductors in blue uniforms to operate 600 buses

Kolkata: Drivers and conductors clad in blue uniforms will operate 600, mostly air-conditioned (AC), special buses to help football lovers conveniently reach Swami Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Stadium during the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

Releasing a booklet on the elaborate arrangement of the state Transport department, Suvendu Adhikari, the state Transport minister, said: "Initiative has been taken for better connectivity during the Under-17 World Cup. The planning has been made following discussions with the police."

Alapan Bandyopadhyay, additional Chief Secretary of the Transport department, said: "A total of 600 buses will be operating specially for the FIFA Under-17 Football World Cup. The initiative has been taken to help people reach the stadium without any inconvenience. The buses will be decorated based on the World Cup theme."

There will be 100 AC shuttle buses operating at an interval of around two to five minutes to and from Ultadanga and Milan Mela. There will be 10, 30 and 60 shuttle buses operating from Ultadanga to Stadium, Karunamoyee to GD Island and Milan Mela to Ultadanga respectively.

It will not be possible to allow all buses from outside to reach near the stadium. So shuttle service will be beneficial for people to reach in front of the stadium from the nearest locations like Ultadanga, Karunamoyee and Milan Mela.

The fare per person for the shuttle bus service is Rs 10.

Around 200 AC buses will be

operating from different points adjacent to the city and South Kolkata up to Manicktala, Milan Mela, Ultadanga and HUDCO.

There will also be special bus service from districts both in North and South Bengal for people to reach the city from faraway places without facing any inconvenience.

A total of 100 buses will be operating from places including Dhamakhali, Kakdwip, Diamond Harbour, Asansol, Durgapur, Midnapore, Haldia, Basirhat, Burdwan, Ranaghat, Behrampore, Malda, Balurghat, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar.

One can reach up to places including Esplanade, Ultadanga, Karunamoyee and Milan Mela in these buses.

Moreover, there will be special bus services to take college and school students to the stadium.

Forty eight buses will be operating for school students while a set of 32 buses will be there for college goers. The school and college goers will be provided free-of-cost transport facility in the buses.

At the same time, 150 app-based buses will also be available in which one can book seats beforehand.

Drivers and conductors of all the 600 buses will be clad in the same blue colour uniform that has been specially designed for the Under-17 World Cup. The uniform also includes a cap. They have been provided with special training.