Transport dept to operate electric buses in East Burdwan

In a unique initiative, the state Transport department is planning to operate electric buses in East Burdwan.

The decision was taken in a high-level meeting held at East Burdwan district on Tuesday. The state Transport department will take the help of the experts of IIT Kharagpur to revive the transport system in the district.

According to a senior official, the district will see a major facelift as far as transportation is considered as various new projects are being taken by the department. The senior officials of the Transport department and the district administration discussed various issues including the one on how the Transport system could be

improved in the district headquarters and its adjoining area of a stretch of 30 km. The district administration will also carry out a survey for the introduction of more new buses in the district.

During the meeting, the Transport department officials sought opinions from various stakeholders on the bus services and how to improve the system. It has been decided that the state Transport department will run four new mini buses in Burdwan. The mini buses will establish a connection between the bus stands situated at the two farthest points in the district. It may be mentioned that mini bus services are available in the district. It has been learnt that the frequency of the mini buses that ferry passengers within the district will be increased. Presently, a passenger gets a mini bus at a gap of two minutes approximately.

A senior official of the Transport department said that they would seek opinion of the experts from IIT Kharagpur to find out if there is a need of introducing more number of buses in the district. It may be mentioned that the district administration earlier sought the help of the IIT experts on whose recommendations the administration shifted the bus stands in the two farthest points of the district. The decision was taken to ease out the traffic congestion in Burdwan district.

It may be here mentioned that the Transport department is planning to introduce electric buses in various parts of the state. The state government has a plan to introduce electric buses in Rajarhat, Bidhannagar and New Town. The state Transport department would ply CNG buses all across the state besides introducing electric buses in Rajarhat, Bidhannagar and New Town.