SGPC starts round-the-clock free bus for Golden Temple visitors

GS Paul

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 12

Taking into account the rise in the number of theft and loot cases with outstation devotees, the SGPC has expanded its free bus service from the railway station to Golden Temple. The bus service will now be available round the clock for the visitors.

The distance between Golden Temple and the railway station is around 5 km via the inner ring road. For the past few days many cases have surfaced wherein visitors have been fleeced by autorickshaw drivers or robbed by outlaws roaming around the railway station during odd hours.

For the safety of the devotees, the SGPC has enhanced the frequency of four buses that shuttle between Golden Temple and the railway station.

Golden Temple manager Sulakhan Singh said the service had been made 24X7 keeping in mind the safety of the devotees. “This is our endeavour to ensure the safety of devotees who come from far-flung areas. Since the train timings are odd, the visitors hire rickshaws or autos, and sometimes it becomes a risky ride for them. We keep one bus each ready at Golden Temple and the railway station. Before the bus with devotees leaves the railway station, our staff members present there inform us and we send another bus,” he said.

Over the years, the free bus service has become a hit with visitors who want to head straight to the shrine to pay obeisance.

There are a total of four buses plying on the Golden Temple-railway station route and the inter-state bus terminus route. It takes about 15 minutes to reach Golden Temple.

Meanwhile, Sulakhan Singh, manager, Golden Temple, said devotees must be patient while boarding the buses. “The bus drivers and conductors have been directed to close the windows when the bus is occupied to its capacity. Generally, the passengers resort to arguments and end up making the bus overcrowded,” he added.