Govt mulls steps to improve bus service
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: A conductor and a driver of one of the Shillong Public Transport Service (SPTS) buses were suspended here on Thursday for violating the bus routes without informing the authorities.
The driver and the conductor, whose identities were not revealed, were suspended after it came to light that the duo diverted the bus originally designated for Nongrah to Mawlynrei village in lieu of cash.
Following the vigilance officers’ report about the incident, the SPTS immediately suspended the duo.
“We have suspended the driver and the conductor so that others do not follow the same trend,” Anthony Pariat, AGM (Operations) of Meghalaya Transport Corporation, said.
In a related incident, the SPTS has sought explanation from two conductors of two buses for failing to issue tickets to the commuters travelling in the buses.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister AT Mondal held a review meeting with the MTC officials about the smooth functioning of the SPTS buses.
During the review meeting, various issues were deliberated upon and plans were mulled to plug the loopholes in the smooth functioning of the buses.
Later, speaking to media persons, Mondal said SPTS was in need of suggestions from commuters to make the bus service more reliable. According to Mondal, commuters must demand for tickets from the conductors and any non-compliance should immediately be reported to the higher authorities. Both the Transport Minister and Principal Secretary, Transport Hector Marwein, who was also present at the meeting, made it clear that since the electronic ticketing machines available in the buses are properly charged overnight, there is no reason why the these ETMs should not work properly during the day time. “The conductors have been instructed to submit these machines to the SPTS office if they do not work properly and to collect fresh ones so that tickets may be issued to the commuters without any hitch,” Mondal added. “Commuters should understand that any conductor who gives excuses like the ETMs not being charged properly is actually resorting to fraud means to pocket money.” Among other facilities being mulled to improve the bus service is the introduction of a smart card by means of which commuters can travel in the buses by recharging their card for a certain validated duration of time.