The state government has planned to introduce city bus services in four new routes. The plan will improve the road connectivity between Agartala Airport and Rail station for common people as well as for the Air and rail passengers.
For the environmentalists, the decision to expand the ambit of public transport system is welcome step forward in the battle against curbing pollution in the city and adjoining areas.
Principal Secretary to Transport department- Sriram Taranikanti announced this in Agartala on Wednesday.
The four new routes are – Agartala railway station to Airport via Nagerjala and Barjala, Agartala railway station to Airport via Nagerjala, Chandrapur, GB and Secretariat, Agartala railway station to Airport via Nagerjala, Radhanagar and Secretariat and the fourth route is Chandrapur to Airport.
The buses would halt in some of the stoppages created under Smart City Mission and schedules of the buses would be displayed at all railway stations of the state, Taranikanti told the press conference.
He said, at present, there are movements of 15 flights and twelve trains (incoming and outgoing) on an average in the state. The City Bus service in the four new routes will be a convenient mode of public transport for the flight and train passengers reach their destinations, he added.
According to Taranikanti, total 68 bus services are operational in different routes at present—TRTC is operating 30 buses, Tripura Urban Transport Company is operating 26 buses and 12 other bus services. Among the 68 buses, four buses are being used in special services—two are in secretariat and the two other buses are in the airport.
The Principal Secretary, Transport department also said that a plan was in the pipeline to introduce bus services in Akhaura Check post to Narsingarh, Jampuilala to Chandrapur and other routes. He said the tendering process would commence soon.