Bus need at Bagdogra Airport felt

MANAS R BANNERJEE, SNS, BAGDOGRA, 1 JANUARY 2018: After bitter experiences of being duped by some local transport operators, several passengers, including foreigners, these days prefer to board state- run buses at the Bagdogra Airport. However, owing to a lack of proper planning to provide the bus services, especially in an appropriate time, passengers, during peak hours, are forced to hire cars from outside and even pay Rs 300 to 350 for an auto rickshaw to head for Siliguri town from the airport.

Passengers are not happy with the high-handedness Taxis and auto rickshaw drivers, and bargaining is a regular feature, all thanks to lack of a good alternative.

Air Force staff Dhanraj Singh very recently became upset after he came to know that the state bus, which was scheduled to leave for Alipurduar via the Hasimara Airbase, had already left Bagdogra. Mr Singh, who boarded another mini state bus, owned by the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC), at Bagdogra, said: "That bus service was good. Had I boarded the bus, I would have reached Hasimara directly"

A conductor of an NBSTC bus, which runs between New Jalpaiguri Station (NJP) and Bagdogra Airport thrice a day, advised Mr Singh, who landed at Bagdogra from Mumbai at around 12 pm, to get down at the Siliguri Junction so that he can go for either the bus or train services from them. Notably, the NBSTC has introduced a morning bus service from Alipurduar to the airport, especially keeping in mind the Air Force staff members, who usually take buses to reach the airport by 12 pm. The bus leaves Bagdogra Airport for Alipurduar via the Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus at 12.20 pm every day. The NBSTC has also introduced another single bus service from the NJP railway station to the airport, which starts from 13.30 am.The bus completes its third trip in the afternoon and leaves the airport by 4.30 pm. The bus takes a large number of passengers in its last trip, while interestingly both the auto rickshaw and taxi drivers allegedly start claiming exorbitant fares after the bus leaves airport, a bus conductor said.

Sudipta Paul, a professional associated with a private company in Sikkim, was surprised to learn that the NBSTC bus fare from Bagdogra to Siliguri was a mere Rs 15. Mr Paul, who landed at Bagdogra from Ahmedabad around 12 pm, bargained with an auto rickshaw driver and finally offered him Rs 250 for the trip.

However, as the auto driver argued about the fare, he boarded the NBSTC bus after the bus conductor informed him of the service.

Delighted at the state bus service, he asked: 'Is there any bus service from Bagdogra to Gangtok? Passengers prefer to board air-conditioned buses from the Kolkata Airport to Esplanade, Sealdah and Howrah. Introduction of this bus service in Kolkata has curbed the high-handedness of taxi operators there. If the same system is introduced here, the present unfair rates will certainly be checked."

However, the NBSTC has not yet provided adequate buses during peak hours.

"The NBSTC should have arranged for more buses between 12 pm and at least 6 pm," said an airport staffer.

Asked to comment on the matter, even as the Bagdogra Airport authorities have planned to ready a specific parking place for state buses. Airport Director Rakesh R Sahay said: " I took initiatives to introduce the state bus service here. My plan is to write a letter to the transport department, seeking bus services from Darjeeling too."

(To be continued)