SNT deploys entire fleet of 22 buses for Gangtok commuters

WILL WITHDRAW FLEET AFTER TOURIST SEASON


ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 28 May: With most of the local taxis catering to tourists, share cabs, the routine option for commuters here, have become rare to come by, much to the consternation of Gangtokians. Taking this “distress call” on top priority, the Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) has deployed its entire fleet of 22 JNR&UM buses for public service in Gangtok with immediate effect.
“Peak tourist season has put a sudden load on taxis in the capital and long lines of anxious commuters waiting for cabs in the heat have become a common sight, thus we decided that we address this inconvenience with maximum deployment of buses [22]. Now, commuters in Gangtok can expect buses at a frequency of 15-minutes at every bus stop,” stated Transport Secretary, Tsegyal Tashi, while speaking to NOW! today.
Usually, SNT plies anywhere between 10-15 JNR&UM buses in-and-around Gangtok every day.
“We are not doing this for profit. Like always, we have reviewed the situation and extended the required services for the people. We invite all to avail the bus service which is also very reasonable since the cost is only Rs.1.20 per kilometer in-and-around Gangtok and Rs.1 per km for any distance more than 20 kilometers,” the Secretary added.
The bus fare for a journey from the main town to say Samdur, 6th Mile, Tadong, comes to Rs.10 to Rs.15 for a journey down till Ranipool. The bus service plies from 6:30 a.m. to 5p.m.
“Before this situation arose, we used to ply buses after calculating the occupancy rate; now, even when the occupancy is between 60-70 percent, we decided to go for maximum deployment since it is the need of the hour. We believe that this occupancy rate will go-up since the tourist season is still at its peak. The public should now start boarding buses,’ the Secretary stressed.
He also informed that this was a temporary deployment keeping in mind the current requirements and that as soon as the lean season sets in, the SNT will withdraw the service and revert to the regular routine.
“We will review the requirement and since we do not want to ruin business for the taxis in the lean season, we will remove the extra deployment of JNR&UM buses. We just want to tide over this crisis for the moment,” he reiterated.