Mukesh Sharma

Kalimpong 24th Aug

The NBSTC buses which had earlier been sent by the State Government to facilitate transport for the hills people amidst the bandh are suddenly seen packed to the hilt.

Due to the indefinite bandh called by the GJMM to press for statehood, transportation among other things has been totally paralyzed in the Hills. Hence, keeping in mind the Hills peoples' problems as well as to arrange transportation facility, the State Government had taken the initiative to ply NBSTC buses in the three sub-divisions of the Hills in the second week of August.

Initially, the buses were seen plying with empty seats to and fro from the plains to the Hills and back with only the escorts comprising two armed IRB personnel for security reasons, a conductor and the driver But these days the NBSTC buses plying across the Hills are seen full so much so that besides the seats, the passengers have been seen standing even on any vacant space inside the buses or hanging outside in order to travel. It was learnt that since yesterday and today, the buses which is seeing huge crowds waiting to avail transportation might be due to the sudden call by the GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gurung to continue with the band for an indefinite period. It is not that the huge crowd was seen today but day by day, the number of Hills people availing the facility arranged by the Government is increasing daily. Today, due to many passenger who came to market from morning 8 am with luggage's increased and increased .One of the two buses which is regularly plying in the siliguri kalimpong route when entered kalimpong town all of the waiting passenger rushed towards the NBSTC bus to booked their seat.The scene was such that police came to the spot and intervene passenger were seen throwing their bags from the window and entering even from window .later within a span of 15 min the second one of the buses entered the town and all the passenger were adjusted in both of the buses by kalimpong police .police make sure that their were no passengers who were left disappointed due to over crowding.

Some passengers travelling in the Kalimpong-Siliguri route revealed that the way in which the buses are being rushed at by the passengers, the Government should make arrangement to provide with more buses for the convenience of the Hills people. Presently, there are only two buses plying directly to Kalimpong from Siliguri.

Importantly, the bus services in the Hills are being plied amidst tight security which has two armed security personnel seated inside each and every bus of the NBSTC as well as police escort vehicles have also been arranged for each bus in order to securely reach their respective destinations. It was learnt that presently there are more than half a dozen NBSTC buses plying in the bandh-stricken Hills of Darjeeling.