Diwali Chhath Special Buses : Yogi government is going to make special transport arrangements for the convenience of passengers on Diwali and Chhath festivals. Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) will operate additional buses to ensure that people going home during festivals do not face shortage of buses. Instructions have been given to run as many buses as possible from November 6 to November 17. The number of buses will be increased especially for the passengers going to Purvanchal from Delhi and other metros.
As per the intention of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the government’s emphasis is on providing safe, convenient and easy travel to the people during festivals. During Chhath festival, a large number of people of Purvanchal return to their homes from Delhi, Ghaziabad and other metros. In view of this increasing number of passengers, the Transport Corporation has started special preparations.
Arrangement of additional buses for Lucknow-Kanpur also
Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh has directed that adequate number of buses should be run from Delhi to Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Apart from this, additional buses should also be arranged for Lucknow and Kanpur. If the number of passengers going from eastern Uttar Pradesh towards Ghaziabad, Delhi and western areas is high, additional buses will be operated from there also. For this, instructions have been given to start additional services once more than 60 percent passengers are received.
Buses will increase from Delhi to Gorakhpur, Varanasi and Ayodhya
For the convenience of passengers during festivals, additional buses will be run from Delhi to Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Kanpur. Along with this, the number of buses will also be increased for Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Meerut, Bareilly, Saharanpur, Agra, Aligarh and Etawah areas.
Regional managers will be able to increase or decrease the number of buses as per the demand of passengers. In view of the increase in the number of pilgrims in the local and neighboring districts on Bhaiya Dooj, the regional authorities have been instructed to make special arrangements. Due to this, people will not face any problem in transportation even at the local level during the festival.
Instructions to take all buses on the road
The Transport Minister has directed that during the incentive period, all the buses of the corporation should be put on the road 100 percent. For this, it has been asked to ensure availability of repair of buses, necessary spare parts and other resources in advance. He has clarified that unfit buses will not be operated under any circumstances.
Owners of contracted buses have also been instructed to get the buses repaired by giving advance notice and keep them available for operation. During this period, leaves of officers and employees will not be approved except under special circumstances. Everyone’s duty will be assigned as per the roster.
Rs 400 per day incentive amount for drivers and conductors
The Transport Corporation will also give special incentives to drivers and conductors for better bus operations during festivals. According to Managing Director Transport Corporation Prabhu Narayan Singh, eligible driver-conductors including contract and outsourcing will get incentive amount at the rate of Rs 400 per day on meeting the prescribed standards.
For this, it will be necessary to do duty for at least 11 days and drive an average of 300 kilometers per day. Employees who complete the prescribed standard for 11 days will be given a lump sum amount of Rs 4,400. At the same time, on doing duty for full 12 days and completing the prescribed kilometer target, you will get an incentive amount of Rs 4,800. Drivers and operators associated with contract and external sources will also be paid additional payment at the rate of 55 paise per kilometer for the extra distance if they drive the bus more than the prescribed kilometer.
You will also get additional benefits by driving an electric bus
The transport corporation is also encouraging the operation of electric buses. During the incentive period, if regular and contract drivers drive electric buses for at least 11 days and complete a total operation of 3,300 kilometers, then they will be paid about Rs 1,000 in addition to the prescribed incentive amount.
Workshop employees will also get incentive amount
Workshop staff play an important role in getting the buses on the road in better condition. Keeping this in view, the Transport Corporation has also fixed incentive amount for the employees working in depot workshop and regional workshop. During the incentive period, a lump sum amount of Rs 2,500 will be given to eligible employees who have done duty for 12 consecutive days and Rs 2,100 to those who have done duty for 11 days.
This will also include outsourced employees directly associated with the corporation. Apart from this, regional managers will be given Rs 10,000 and service managers will be given Rs 5,000. This amount will be distributed to the employees and officers doing better work on the recommendation of the regional committee.
Testing with breath analyzer for safe journey
The Transport Minister has instructed the enforcement teams to be active. All drivers and conductors will be tested with breath analyzer, so that no driver operates the bus while intoxicated. Enforcement teams at the regional level have also been asked to conduct continuous investigations.
Managing Director of Transport Corporation Prabhu Narayan Singh has assured that the instructions of the Transport Minister will be completely followed. For this, necessary guidelines have been issued to all regional and assistant regional managers. Instructions have been given to maintain cleanliness in bus stands and buses.