No funds to buy feeder buses for Ghaziabad

The issue of running and financing of feeder buses for two Metro stations in Ghaziabad would be the next big issue before the scheduled opening of the Anand-Vihar- Vaishali Metro route on July 9.

The issue of running and financing of feeder buses for two Metro stations in Ghaziabad would be the next big issue before the scheduled opening of the Anand-Vihar- Vaishali Metro route on July 9. The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has denied running of feeder buses and availability of finance, in case any state department opts to run such buses.

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Authority’s vice-chairman, Narendra Kumar Chaudhary, denied availability of finances for the feeder buses. “We cannot provide any funds for purchase of feeder buses,” Chaudhary told Hindustan Times.

GDA’s statement came after the UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) managing-director, from Lucknow, wrote to GDA and stated about the non-availability of funds to operate city buses. Officials requested the GDA for arrangement of funds for purchase of feeder buses for Ghaziabad and also for a provision of land for bus stops and workshop.

During a recent meeting undertaken by Ghaziabad DM, it was decided to explore possibilities if UPSRTC can run the feeder-buses for the city as it operates city buses in Noida. Corporation's regional manager, Ashok Kumar, could not be contacted after repeated attempts.

In absence of feeder buses, ferrying commuters from nearby areas like Indirapuram, Vasundhara, Delta-colonies and Sahibabad, which constitute a major urban population, would be a major worry as commuters have no direct connectivity to travel up to Metro stations. Even auto services in the interior areas is limited.