Commuters in Guwahati have been facing problems due to scarcity of buses for a few days now. Nearly 400 buses from the city have been sent to poll-bound Nagaland.
Till March 1, people using local transport to get to places, will likely face troubles, until the buses are back in the first week of next month.
Due to poll work in Nagaland, the State received a demand of nearly 4,000 vehicles, including trucks, buses and light motor vehicles.
“I have had to walk from office, for the last few days as there are no buses. I have to wait a long time for the buses to come and even then they are so crowded, it’s almost impossible to get on it,” says Sangita Das, an accountant.
The hired vehicles are being kept in the Veterinary Field, Khanapara, Guwahati.
Around 1,247 buses normally ply on the city roads but due to the unavailable buses, only 669 are plying now.
Ashish Sharma, who works in a private bank said, “As I work in a private bank, I get late almost every day. Last night I had to wait half-an-hour for the bus and when it came, it was so full that I had difficulty getting on it. As my work place is far from my home, it is not possible for me to walk home. I take a cab when I am too late but it is quite expensive to take a cab every day, I hope this problem is solved soon.”
A demand of 730 buses was placed by Nagaland, which also includes the long distance buses. Besides, 700 light motor vehicles will also move to Nagaland.
A number of vehicles would also go to another poll-bound State Meghalaya from Goalpara, Dhubri and Bongaigaon.