National News: Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has taken a new initiative to improve the connectivity of rural areas. Mini buses will be started in areas with narrow roads in Ghaziabad, Hapur, and Bulandshahr. This step will prove to be a boon for thousands of villages where, till now, public transport facilities were limited or not available at all. Also, comfortable sleeper bus service will also be started from the Kaushambi depot to five big cities, which will make long-distance travel easier.
Demand for minibuses for narrow routes
The Transport Corporation has demanded a total of 175 new buses from the headquarters, out of which 25 minibuses will be reserved especially for villages with narrow and winding roads. Mini buses will be 7 to 9 meters long, with a seating capacity of 24 to 28 passengers. This service will provide relief to the people of those areas where the roads are not suitable for big buses. This will improve the accessibility of rural areas, and people will be able to travel easily to cities.
Results found in detailed survey
In November 2023, 1522 villages in three districts of the Ghaziabad region — Ghaziabad, Hapur, and Bulandshahr — were surveyed. In this survey, it was found that about 1250 villages are already connected with bus service, but there are about 272 villages where no public transport is available. Also, some routes turned out to be so narrow and complex that it was not possible to provide normal bus service there. Mini buses will be deployed for these special routes so that service can be provided in accordance with the road structure.
Sleeper buses for five major cities
A total of 12 sleeper buses will be operated from Kaushambi depot to five major cities — Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Ayodhya, Prayagraj, and Varanasi. This service will bring relief to those passengers who travel at night and are looking for a comfortable journey. Due to sleeper buses, passengers will get better sleep and convenience, which will improve the experience of long-distance travel.
Possible routes for operation of minibuses
Mini buses will be run on several important rural routes, including Khurja-Junction-Chandas-Kaushambi, Hapur-Asra-Muradnagar-Matnoura-Noida, Loni-Pachaira-Loni-Ghaziabad, and Kaushambi-Modinagar-Baigambad-Budhana-Penga-Saunda. These routes will connect rural areas to main cities and simplify everyday travel.
Hope to improve rural development and travel
This scheme of UPSRTC will not only bring better transport facilities to rural areas but will also accelerate socio-economic development. Connecting villages to cities through road transport will make access to facilities like employment, education, and health easier. Also, this initiative will also increase the demand for eco-friendly buses, as CNG buses will also be used in them.
This new revolution of transport in Uttar Pradesh will provide a better, safer, and more accessible journey to the rural people. Through minibus service and sleeper buses, the road transport system of Uttar Pradesh will get a new dimension, which will play an important role in the socio-economic development of the state in the coming times.
