Improve facilities, we’ll pay more

“It is a relief to get off the dilapidated and kandom buses run by our roadways. If the buses are going to get better courtesy these extra charges, I would be the first to pay them,” said Atinder Singh, a commuter from Adampur, who works in Jalandhar. Another commuter, Kanwal Jeet Singh, describes transport services in Punjab thus: “Life is miserable both while waiting for the buses and travelling in them. Comfortable seats are not available in the buses, while outside, the bus shelters are missing. It seems Punjab Roadways Department has no money to improve services.”

The fares charged by private operators are not substantially higher than that of roadways buses, said a group of youngsters, Avtar Singh, Rakesh and Bhola, who commute daily from Sultanpur Lodhi. “These buses have proper seats and are in a better condition,” they said. They however regretted the tendency to overload the buses.

“The government spent crores on the Anandpur Sahib celebrations, and this fare hike seems to be a way to get the money back,” said Gursimran Singh, a regular commuter on the Ludhiana-Patiala route. He regrets having to shell out Rs 180 more every month. “Neither has the number of buses increased nor the number of routes,” is what Nek Ram, an elderly person has to say.

In Amritsar, it is the daily bus passengers who are more critical of the hike than occasional users. Most passengers, however, feigned helplessness over the hike. A local trader, Pawan Kumar, who visits various villages to sell sports goods, said he would be be forced to pass on the burden of the hike to his customers. Ravinder Singh, another daily passenger, pointed at the water-filled potholes at the bus station and said: “I wish they spend the money on maintenance of buses and bus stands.” Nirmala Rani — whom we met at the bus stand and who was travelling to Adampur — was not aware of the fare hike. “I rarely travel, so it does not really bother me.” she said. On the other hand, Alok Kumar, another daily commuter, opined that the joint effort of all daily passengers could force the government to reconsider the decision.”