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This sharp decline in bus services has had a serious financial impact, with Uttarakhand Roadways losing an estimated Rs 30 lakh each day.
Direct bus services to Delhi are offered from several towns in Uttarakhand.
The ongoing pollution crisis in Delhi is causing significant losses to Uttarakhand’s state-run bus services, with the state’s roadways facing a daily revenue shortfall of Rs 30 lakh. In response, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi convened an urgent meeting on Tuesday to address the issue, which were exacerbated by restrictions on bus operations due to air quality concerns in the national capital.
The meeting, attended by senior officials and representatives from the Transport Department, focused on the restrictions imposed on buses travelling from Uttarakhand to Delhi. Currently, only BS6-compliant buses are permitted to enter Delhi, while others are restricted to stopping at Mohan Nagar in Ghaziabad. As a result, the frequency of buses operating on the crucial Delhi-Dehradun route has plummeted. Prior to the restrictions, 502 buses operated daily between the two cities; today, that number has been reduced to just 288.
This sharp decline in bus services has had a serious financial impact, with Uttarakhand Roadways losing an estimated Rs 30 lakh each day. The absence of major holidays or festivals at this time means that, despite the reduced demand, the revenue shortfall persists.
In a bid to address the issue and prevent further confusion for passengers, the Chief Secretary instructed that buses currently terminating at Ghaziabad be extended to Kaushambi. Additionally, Raturi called for immediate discussions on procuring 175 new buses to bolster the fleet and alleviate the operational strain. She also emphasised the need to increase bus frequency, particularly on weekends, to accommodate the travel demands.
Hari Singh, General Secretary of the Roadways Union in Garhwal, highlighted the growing frustration of both bus operators and passengers. He noted that the daily losses amount to Rs 30 lakh and pointed to challenges faced on certain single routes. Furthermore, the situation is also causing inconvenience for passengers from other regions, including Faridabad, Gurugram, and Jaipur, as they too must pass through Delhi for onward travel.
The disruption is particularly significant as many people from Uttarakhand live in Delhi, making travel between the two locations vital. Direct bus services to the capital are offered from several towns in Uttarakhand, including Dehradun, Haldwani, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Ramnagar, Kotdwar, and other hill towns. However, the recent decision by the Delhi government to impose stricter pollution-related travel restrictions has severely impacted these essential services, leading to financial losses and passenger inconveniences across the state.
- Location :
Dehradun, India
