Mamata flags off Banglashree Express bus service in city

Kolkata: The Banglashree Express bus service between Kolkata and the district headquarters was flagged off by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday.

The service, named such by the Chief Minister herself, has been launched for the first time ever where air-conditioned Volvo buses have been introduced to cover the distance non-stop.

She said 20 air-conditioned Volvo buses have been launched and six more will be added to the fleet later. "The high-speed train has not taken shape yet, but we have started the high-speed bus service," said Banerjee.

"During a discussion with the 15th Finance Commission on Tuesday, I told them that we have created a new class that is called the grassroot class under which people of all sections get included and the air-conditioned bus service from Kolkata to the district headquarters will ensure benefits up to the grassroot level."

She further added: "In today's world, people have less time in their hand and often a large section of people travel from the districts to the city. The bus service is going to help them a lot." She also said that at present there are around 3,500 buses of the state Transport department including around 500 air-conditioned ones. Apart from Howrah and Alipore in South 24-Parganas, the buses will start operating from all the district headquarters to the city.

Recollecting the incident during monsoon in 2017 when the connectivity with North Bengal was almost cut off as the railway links had crashed, the Chief Minister said: "The bus service at that time had helped to maintain connectivity between North and South Bengal."

State Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Secretary Malay De, Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya, State Security Advisor Surajit Kar Purkayastha, Director General of Police Virendra, Additional Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Commissioner of Police Rajeev Kumar and other senior officials of the department were present at the programme in which the buses were flagged off from Nabanna.

The Chief Minister also flagged off 22 air-conditioned ambulances and 13 wrecker vans. The ambulances and wrecker vans will be operating in different parts of the state.

While speaking about the need of wrecker vans, Banerjee said: "Often breakdown of vehicles take place on Maa Flyover. I was discussing the issue with the Commissioner of Police. In a bid to check the problem, it has to be ensured that the fitness of vehicles also has to be checked."

Adhikari added: "The bus service between the district headquarters and Kolkata has been initiated following directions of the Chief Minister."