IGI Delhi bus service fails to take off on its maiden run as only one passenger turns up to travel

Amritsar, June 15

The maiden run of the state government’s super luxury AC Volvo bus service between Punjab and New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday proved a damp squib here as it had to be cancelled as only one passenger had procured a ticket.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann along with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal flagged off the service from the Jalandhar bus stand on Wednesday.

A 43-seater Volvo bus was to leave for Delhi airport from the holy city at 1.40 pm, but it had to be cancelled on the very first day of its maiden run. The reason stated was lack of passengers. Only one passenger had booked the seat, that too online. People cited the lack of publicity to intimate the public in advance of the cheaper travel facility as the reason behind the tepid response from passengers. It is likely to offer relief to a large number of NRIs from this area who travel to the IGI airport to board international flights.

Now, two buses will leave the city for Delhi tomorrow. The morning bus will leave for Delhi at 9.20 am and nine tickets have been sold online. Four tickets have been sold for the next bus that is to depart at 1.40 pm.

Plying of state owned buses on the Amritsar-Delhi route sent private transporters into tizzy as they feel competition to be more intense, tilting in favour of passengers, in the coming weeks. The government is offering luxury travel on the route for just Rs 1,380 per person for a side. Efforts to get contact HS Gill, General Manager, Punjab Roadways, Amritsar-II, to confirm the development proved futile as despite repeated calls he could not be contacted.