Kolkata, 01 August (H.S.) : The West Bengal government has extended the operating hours of government bus services on 10 major routes across Kolkata from Saturday, providing significant relief to late-night commuters. The initiative is aimed at benefiting patients travelling to government and private hospitals, their attendants, night-shift employees, students and long-distance railway passengers.

According to the Transport Department, the last E-32 bus from Howrah Station to Barrackpore will now depart at 10:00 p.m. instead of 9:45 p.m. The route passes through MG Road, Shyambazar and BT Road, connecting Medical College and RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The last buses on the S-7 and S-5 routes from Howrah Station to Garia will also leave at 10:00 p.m. These buses will travel via Esplanade, Park Street, Exide, Rashbehari, Gariahat and Jadavpur, serving major healthcare facilities including SSKM Hospital and Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute.

On the S-10A route, the last bus from Howrah to Ballygunge will depart at 10:00 p.m., covering Bellevue Hospital, Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan and other leading private hospitals.

The S-9A service from Dunlop to Ballygunge, which earlier ended at 8:00 p.m., will now operate until 10:00 p.m. The route connects RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, BR Singh Hospital, Bellevue Hospital and several other major medical institutions.

The last T-16 bus from Rajabazar to Mourigram has also been rescheduled to 10:00 p.m., providing connectivity to NRS Medical College and Hospital, SSKM Hospital and Narayani Hospital.

Similarly, the S-30 service from Ultadanga to Ecospace will now run until 10:00 p.m., covering Apollo Hospital, Tata Medical Center and Ohio Hospital.

The S-24 route from Howrah Station to Kamalgazi will also have its last departure at 10:00 p.m. The service will connect several major hospitals, including NRS Medical College and Hospital, National Medical College and Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Ruby General Hospital, Medica Superspecialty Hospital and Peerless Hospital.

On the AC-37 route, the last bus from Barasat to Garia, which previously departed at 4:35 p.m., will now leave at 10:00 p.m. via the Airport, Ultadanga and Ruby, improving access to several healthcare facilities.

The VS-2 route from Howrah Station to the Airport will also operate until 10:00 p.m., passing through Medical College and the Central Blood Bank.

The state government said the extended bus timings are intended to improve late-night public transport and ensure easier access to hospitals and other essential destinations across Kolkata.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh