While the recent hike in bus fares in the Capital has hit the NCR region as well,with fares of buses to and from Delhi increasing by Rs 5 to 10,roadways officials have no plans for making bus travel a more comfortable experience anytime soon. Torn seats,broken windowpanes,missing first-aid kits and complaint registers are the sorry plight of the fleet of approximately 400 buses plying between Gurgaon,Faridabad and Delhi,transporting thousands of commuters daily. There are 200 buses plying in Gurgaon,out of which 47 are CNG buses,20 are low-floor and the rest are diesel-run. Faridabad has a fleet of 215 buses. Of these,45 are CNG-operated and 20 are low-floor buses. The condition of most diesel-operated buses is deplorable. Also,the bus stands are in a shambles. There are no shelter facilities for waiting passengers,and public conveniences in the complexes are not cleaned or maintained. We have written to the authorities concerned to sanction funds for repair work, a Haryana Roadways employee said on condition of anonymity. The general manager of Roadways (Gurgaon) Lajpat Rai,said that plans were on for renovation of bus stands. We might also rope in private players to increase the number of buses. His counterpart in Faridabad,Pradeep Kumar,was unavailable for comment. Transport Commissioner Anand Mohan Sharan said the hike in fares is a direct effect of local rates and not a move by the Haryana Roadways. We have sanctioned 150 buses under JNNURM in Faridabad, while talks are on to implement a new transport scheme on a Public Private Partnership basis in Gurgaon. I have also given clear instructions to all officials that they must mend the broken windowpanes of buses. Also,three bus stands in Gurgaon will be soon re-developed under the PPP model, Sharan said.
