Singhal said what if Guwahati have more flexible bus service?

It makes news when a senior minister in Himanta Biswa Sarma’s state cabinet boards Guwahati’s city buses to understand the problems of daily commuters. So, when Assam’s civil affairs minister Ashok Singhal recently boarded a city bus and accompanied passengers, it got massive media coverage. But the question arises, did the young minister observe the many difficulties faced by the elderly with women and children in his rides?
Regularity and reliability of city buses in the virtual capital of Northeast India, constant comfort of passengers (especially women), extra waiting time at a fixed stoppage, behavior of bus drivers, conductors and handymen (most of whom use A media-savvy minister must have seen the mistreatment of passengers and even pedestrians, cleaning of vehicles, etc. during duty hours.
Further, it is hoped that Singhal will push forward with the authorities concerned (along with state Chief Minister Sarma and Transport Minister Parimal Shukalbaidya) to resolve these issues in a practical manner. Someone remind him that in 2015 the local authorities decided to start night city bus service on some selected routes in Guwahati. These night buses were to start service from 8 pm to midnight every day. Passengers were asked to pay fifty per cent extra fare, but this was never fully realized, and was probably forgotten by the people of Guwahati.
The prehistoric city today supports more than 1.5 million permanent residents and a large number of city dwellers really depend on city buses for their daily work. About 650 buses (more than 500 owned by private parties) ply on the roads of Guwahati. Recently, 100 new compressed natural gas-powered buses, equipped with air-conditioning, fire detection, global positioning system, etc., have been introduced in the city. The Transport Department is expected to provide CNG buses with a sustainable and dignified service to passengers.

Government city bus routes include Khanapara to Jalukbari, ISBT to Paltanbazar via Nepali Mandir, ISBT to Kachari via Datalpara, Basistha Chariali to Guwahati University via NH 37, Khanapara to Kachari via Ganeshguri Flyover, Jalukbari to Khanapara via NH 37 , ISBT to Paltanbazar. Marketplace. Lalganesh, Kahilipara to Amingaon via Chandmari, Chandrapur to Dharapur Chariali, Basistha Mandir to Adabari via Chandmari, Basistha Mandir to Adabari via Paltanbazar, Narengi to Khanamukh via Chandmari, Panjabari to Adabari via Chandmari, Adabari to Sualkuchi, Adabari to Chaygaon. Adabari, Khanapara to Khetri, Bornihat to Jalukbari etc.
The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) operates around 100 city buses across the city. ASTC (constituted under the Road Transport Corporation Act 1950 with effect from 31 March 1970) otherwise operates about 1100 buses (including 600 luxury buses) for long distance destinations. Several privately owned buses (more than 1200) are also under ASTC operation. The corporation assures passengers of a reliable, safe and comfortable journey. Apart from covering rural areas within Assam, ASTC buses also reach important destinations in neighboring states.
The Patriotic People’s Front of Assam (PPFA), a forum for nationalist citizens, recently urged the authorities to focus on quality night bus service in the city. The forum posed a logical question to the state government in general and the transport department in particular as to why they could not ensure a sincere city bus service in Guwahati after evening despite the improved law and order situation in the last few years. It added, “Why can’t the people of Guwahati enjoy a city bus ride after 9 pm on various routes? How long will they have to wait for a regular bus service till midnight? If private owners have night hours.” I am not ready to run, so why does the department not run its own buses?
As Guwahati has been developed and developed to connect many South (and Southeast) Asian countries including Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, etc., it should be active and lively late into the night. . Today, hundreds of local youth work till night hours in various commercial establishments including shopping malls, restaurants, hospitals, media houses etc. and may not be able to afford private vehicles. Moreover, once a good night bus service starts, all passengers will plan their evening activities accordingly. These positive changes should happen as soon as possible.