By IANS
New Delhi : Commuters in the Indian capital Friday heaved a sigh of relief as hundreds of Blueline buses were back on the road. But anger persisted against the “killer buses” that have been involved in many fatalities and faced a government crackdown.
An increased number of state-run DTC buses and Bluelines helped tens of thousands of commuters reach office and other desired destinations in time.
“It was a great relief as more buses were plying today. At least we did not have to wait for a long time like the last few days,” said Ramesh Tiwari, who commutes every day on Route 764 to reach his office in Nehru Place from Najafgarh.
“Yesterday I had waited almost 45 minutes to catch a bus but today the frequency of buses is quite good,” Tiwari said.
Blueline buses have killed at least 61 people and injured nearly 150 others this year alone.
After the government threatened action, most of the 4,200 buses in the fleet stayed away from the city’s roads as a pressure tactic.
With the government withdrawing all DTC buses from satellite towns to improve service in the city, commuters from places like Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurgaon had a tough time.
“I have been waiting for almost one hour to catch a bus to Dhaula Kuan from Noida. After DTC buses were withdrawn from neighbouring cities, the situation has become worse,” said Kumkum Mishra, a student.
However, Mishra said the government should continue to use strong-arm tactics against these “unruly” buses.
“No doubt, we are suffering but the government should not succumb to pressure. They must continue their crackdown. The national capital must improve its accident record,” she said.
Transport ministry officials said that Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit would hold a meeting late evening to take stock of the situation.