Emphasis on passenger convenience and safety, better

facilities to be provided at bus stations

Lucknow, Oct 30 (HS): The

Yogi government will make special transport arrangements for passengers during

Diwali and Chhath. To ensure that people traveling home for the festivals do

not face a shortage of buses, the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport

Corporation (UPSRTC) will operate additional buses. The government has issued

instructions to run as many buses as possible from November 6 to November 17.

The number of buses will be increased particularly for passengers traveling

from Delhi and other metropolitan cities to Purvanchal.

In line with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's vision, the

government is focusing on providing people with safe, convenient, and smooth

travel during the festivals. During Chhath, many people from Purvanchal return

home from Delhi, Ghaziabad, and other metropolitan cities. In view of the

growing number of passengers, the Transport Corporation has begun making

special preparations.

Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh has directed that

enough buses be operated from Delhi to eastern Uttar Pradesh. In addition, extra

buses are to be arranged for Lucknow and Kanpur. If passenger numbers traveling

from eastern Uttar Pradesh to Ghaziabad, Delhi, and western regions are high,

additional buses will also be operated from those areas. Instructions have been

issued to introduce additional services when passenger occupancy exceeds 60

percent.

For passengers' convenience during the festivals, additional

buses will be operated from Delhi to Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and

Kanpur. The number of buses will also be increased for the Ghaziabad,

Moradabad, Meerut, Bareilly, Saharanpur, Agra, Aligarh, and Etawah regions.

Regional Managers can increase or decrease the number of buses based on

passenger demand.

In view of increased passenger numbers in local areas and neighboring

districts on Bhai Dooj, regional officials have been directed to make special

arrangements. This will ensure that people do not face difficulties in local

travel during the festival.

The Transport Minister has directed that all Corporation

buses be deployed on the road at 100 percent capacity during the incentive

period. For this, arrangements must be made in advance for bus repairs, the

availability of necessary spare parts, and other resources.

He has made it clear that unfit buses must not be operated

under any circumstances. Owners of contracted buses have also been instructed

to be informed in advance, get their buses repaired, and keep them available

for operations. During this period, leave for officers and employees will also

not be approved, except in special circumstances. Everyone will be assigned

duties according to the roster.

To ensure better bus operations during the festivals, the

Transport Corporation will also provide special incentives to drivers and

conductors. According to Transport Corporation Managing Director Prabhu Narayan

Singh, eligible drivers and conductors, including those engaged on a

contractual and outsourced basis, will receive an incentive of Rs 400 per day

if they meet the prescribed criteria. They must perform duty for at least 11

days and operate buses for an average of 300 kilometers per day.

Employees who meet the prescribed criteria for 11 days will

be paid a lump sum of Rs 4,400. Those who work all 12 days and meet the

prescribed kilometer target will receive an incentive of Rs 4,800. Contractual

and outsourced drivers and conductors will also receive additional payment of

55 paise per kilometer for operating buses beyond the prescribed distance.

The Transport Corporation is also encouraging electric bus

operations. During the incentive period, regular and contractual drivers who

operate electric buses for at least 11 days and complete a total of 3,300

kilometers will be paid approximately Rs 1,000 in addition to the prescribed

incentive amount.

Workshop employees play an important role in ensuring that

buses are deployed on the road in good condition. In this regard, the Transport

Corporation has also fixed incentive amounts for employees working in depot

workshops and regional workshops. Eligible employees who perform duty

continuously for 12 days during the incentive period will receive a lump sum of

Rs 2,500, while those performing duty for 11 days will receive Rs 2,100. This

will also include outsourced employees directly associated with the Corporation.

In addition, Regional Managers will receive Rs 10,000 and

Service Managers Rs 5,000. The amount will be distributed, on the

recommendation of the regional committee, to employees and officers who have

performed well. The Transport Minister has directed enforcement teams to remain

active. All drivers and conductors will be tested with breathalyzers to ensure

no driver operates a bus while under the influence of alcohol. Regional

enforcement teams have also been instructed to conduct continuous checks.

Transport Corporation Managing Director Prabhu Narayan Singh

has assured that the Transport Minister’s directions will be fully implemented.

The Transport Corporation has issued necessary instructions to all Regional and

Assistant Regional Managers. They have also been directed to ensure proper

cleanliness arrangements at bus stations and inside buses.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi