After years of outcry over having to depend on worn-out city buses, the residents of Phuentshogling Thromde will finally be able to enjoy comfortable rides in new city buses. The Phuentshogling Thromde has received six new city buses which will hit the road from next month. The thromde has been requesting for the new buses for the last three years.
The Phuentshogling Thromde has been making use of the four old buses; two are coaster buses and two are Tata buses.
The days of riding the old buses with broken seats will soon be over for the thromde commuters. Two buses are so old that their lifespan had expired in March this year. This means that the vehicles are no longer fit to be used as public transport.
The thromde will start transportation services in the new buses from the next month. Currently, the buses are being equipped with the necessary facilities such as GPS and smart card systems among others.
“We will cater services to all the six demkhongs and two adjoining gewogs. The two old coaster buses will also be used and we will surrender the other two. The two Tata buses have become very old,” said Uttar Kumar Rai, Phuentshogling Thrompon.
He added on average 500 people use the public transport service every day.
To provide efficient public transport service, the officials said, they will need about 12 buses in total.
“We are mainly focusing on students as they cannot walk to school especially when it is raining. And it will be difficult for them to travel by taxi. For example, it will be difficult for students from the temporary shelters near Amo Chhu, Amo Chhu Tar, Pasakha, Pekarzhing etc. We are also providing concessional rates to students, persons with disabilities and senior citizens,” added the Thrompon.
He said, aside from this, an efficient public transport service is essential for economic growth. He added it took them two and a half years to get the buses.
Meanwhile, of the six new buses, two are smaller buses meant to cater to commuters in places where the roads are not wide enough.
Kinley Dem, Chhukha
Edited by Phub Gyem