Transport dept to run 1,595 buses for Gangasagar pilgrims

Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government is taking all possible measures to ensure availability of transport for safe and hassle-free commuting of pilgrims at the Gangasagar Mela. The state Transport department has decided to run a total of 1,595 buses from January 11 to 17, which is 200 more than last year.

The West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) and the South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) will be operating the buses. The Transport department has fixed the fares for the buses so that the commuters face no inconvenience.

The department will also run 106 additional vessels and barges with the latter being equipped to carry both people and vehicles. Helicopters would also be kept ready in case of any emergency, from January 12 to 16.

The number of buses to be run by WBTC from January 11 to January 17 are 35, 41, 125, 260, 257, 221 and 81, respectively – a total of 1,020. The other 575 buses would be run by SBSTC – 50 buses on January 12, 120 each on January 13 to 15, 110 on January 16 and 55 on January 17.

The buses would leave from Howrah, Babughat and Outram Ghat for Lot No. 8 jetty (in Kakdwip) and Namkhana and from Lot 8 and Namkhana for Kachuberia and Benuban/Chemaguri, respectively.

The fares (per person) as earmarked by the Transport department are as follows: Howrah to Lot 8: Rs 75, Babughat or Outram Ghat to Lot 8: Rs 70, Babughat or Outram Ghat to Namkhana: Rs 75, Howrah to Namkhana: Rs 80, Lot 8 to Kachuberia: Rs 45 and Namkhana to Benuban/Chemaguri: Rs 8.

WBTC will be ready to introduce more buses in the routes, if necessary, from January 5. "People will start returning from Gangasagar from January 15. We are ready to run more buses if necessary," a senior official of the Transport department said.