No clarity on free travel for women in buses operated by Ludhiana MC

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 1

The government has ordered that women can travel free on city buses operated by the Local Bodies Department. At present, MC’s city buses are being run by a private contractor. “Only 35 out of 120 city buses are plying on roads. Rest of the buses are either lying defunct or not being run by the contractor concerned,” said sources.

Residents want that the Municipal Corporation (MC) should start all city buses and provide free travel facility for women in these vehicles.

Notably, there is no city bus or auto service for many colleges in the city. Around five years ago, a demand was raised before the MC to start direct city bus service to all local colleges, but to no avail.

Most students, particularly those coming from far-flung villages, cover a long distance on foot to reach their college.

Although SCD Government College is one of the oldest colleges of the city, it has no direct bus or auto service to or from the campus. As there is no bus or auto service, girl students generally walk to SCD Government College from Bhai Bala Chowk and Fountain Chowk. Similarly, there is no city bus service for girl students studying in colleges located in Ghumar Mandi, Model Town and other areas of the city.

The Punjab Medium Industries Development chairman, Amarjit Singh Tikka said, “The government has launched free bus travel service for women. It is good step. The MC should run all city buses and provide free travel facility to women in these vehicles. I will raise a demand before the MC authorities to start city buses on all routes.”

The MC Commissioner, Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal, said that they would take required steps in this regard. Earlier, MC's Ludhiana City Bus Service Limited (LCBSL) was running the service on its own. Later, it signed an agreement with a private firm to run the city buses till July 2014. In January 2015, the LCBSL signed new agreement with another firm, which now operates and maintains city buses.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.