PU on a roll after 38 years
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Patna: After a 38-year-long wait, the ring bus service for students of Patna University started on Wednesday.
State transport minister Santosh Nirala, transport department principal secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal and Patna University vice-chancellor Rash Bihari Prasad Singh on Wednesday flagged off the ring bus service for PU students. Five buses will ply from National Institute of Technology (NIT)-Mor to Gandhi Maidan (Kargil Chowk) at 15-minute intervals each.
The buses will start from Gandhi Maidan and pass through Patna Medical College and Hospital, Science College, Patna College and National Institute of Technology-Patna between 7am and 10pm. One has to pay Rs 5 for boarding the bus at any stop.
Like other recently-launched city buses, the ones on the Gandhi Maidan-Patna University route, too, will be equipped with CCTV cameras and GPS. Students will be given priority over regular commuters on this route.
Also, 50 per cent seats on the buses will be reserved for girl students.
Students have welcomed the decision to start the bus service for PU students. Surbhi Priya, a student of Patna University said: “The bus service is a boon for PU students, as private buses are crowded with people and have no fixed fare. That apart, bus operators often play vulgar Bhojpuri songs.”
“The department has decided to start a bus service for PU students, as it was a long-pending demands of students,” transport minister Santsoh Nirala said. “Patna University Students Union (Pusu) president Divyanshu Bhardwaj had met chief minister in this connection on Sunday. We are starting the service in less than 96 hours.”
Transport department secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said the bus service has been started from NIT Mor to Gandhi Maidan in the initial phase. “But after summer vacation, the service will be extended till Digha and AIIMS so that students don’t face any difficulties.”
The transport secretary also said that a special bus service for girls students will be started in the coming months. On the occasion, the VC asked students to follow the rules and regulations, asking them to carry their identity card while travelling by bus and also pay their fares regularly. Sources said that concessional monthly passes would be issued to students, depending on footfall of passengers on this route.
On the occasion the teachers also shared their experience about the bus service they banked on 35 years ago. “In the 1980s the minimum fare was 10 paisa and the buses used to ply from Kankarbagh, Gandhi Maidan, Patna City and Danapur area,” P.K. Poddar, a history teacher, said. “Many students used to take the university buses. It was a popular mode of transport.”
Courtesy: The Telegraph
