CTU increases bus operation hours to facilitate commuters

The Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) has increased operation hours of the bus service, focusing largely on the routes of Zirakpur, Derabassi and Kharar.

The Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) has increased operation hours of the bus service, focusing largely on the routes of Zirakpur, Derabassi and Kharar.

This has been done to mitigate the inconvenience being faced by the commuters following the ban that was imposed on the diesel autorickshaws by the State Transport Authority (STA) over a week ago.

While the CTU increased 118 hours of operation on a daily basis, 90 trips have been added in total for all 19 bus routes across the city. Three-four trips of the buses have been added to the routes linking more number of areas in the city and periphery.

Director Transport Amit Talwar said, “There have been reports of passengers being harassed by the autorickshaw and cab drivers who are taking advantage of the ban on diesel autos by charging hefty prices even for shorter distances. Thus we decided to strengthen the public transport.”

According to Talwar, “While the frequency of buses will remain the same, number of trips have been increased so that passengers need not worry if they miss a bus. Addition of four and two trips have been done for route number 203 and 206, respectively.”

Route number 203 covers ISBT-43, Mansa Devi, Attawa, Sector 22/23, ISBT-17, 17/18, 18 market, 19 market, 27 market, 28 market, CTU workshop, railway station and housing board chowk, Manimajra.

Route 206 covers ISBT-43 to IT Park via 44/43, 36/35, Kisan Bhawan, 23/22, ISBT-17, 8/18, 7/19, 26/27, grain market, Sector 26, CTU workshop, railway station, Manimajra town light point, Kishangarh and IT park.

“We are already working to bring another 150 buses onto city roads apart from the existing 350. We are working on a plan to introduce small AC buses on the routes where there are no buses, especially in the market areas,” he added.

It is worth mentioning here that From January 1 to 20, the STA has challaned about 800 autos and impounded 550 for plying sans permit.