In the coastal town starved of public transport, mini buses have come as a huge relief to the people to commute without hassle.
Nearly 4 km away from the busy SV Patel Road in Puducherry, thirty-year-old Rani stood in a corner of Sozhaivazhiamman Koil Street where the road bends towards Solai Nagar.
She was waiting with her mother and child to take the blue mini bus that goes to the ‘big market’ (Goubert Market) on Jawaharlal Nehru Street. “The mini bus must have reached Solai Nagar now. It will be back in fifteen or twenty minutes,” she said.
Like her, there were many standing on the different streets along the road from Solai Nagar towards Government General Hospital.
The 33A numbered bus that starts from Puducherry bus stand at M.M. Salai picks up commuters along the way till it reaches Solai Nagar. There are nine other such mini buses plying to different parts of Puducherry where public transport was absent earlier.
“We had to walk nearly 5 to 6 km to take a bus to reach our destinations. There was no public transport and the auto rickshaws are very expensive. From the time this bus started plying in our area we just walk out of our house and board the bus to reach our destinations. This has come as a blessing to many poor women who go to the city to work,” said Devi, another commuter.
The routes that the 10 mini buses deployed in Puducherry ply are from Navarkulam to Nonankuppam, Puducherry bus stand to Kurumampet, Thengaitittu to Kurinji Nagar, Puducherry bus stand to Solai Nagar, Vambakeerapalayam to Ousteri, Chinna Veeranpattinam to Kurinji Nagar, Velrampet to Solai Nagar, Puducherry bus stand to Villianur and Sudhana Nagar and Ellaipillai Chavady to General Hospital via Reddiarpalayam and Kamban Nagar.
In September last year, nearly 15 mini buses were inducted for Puducherry Union Territory. While 10 were deployed for Puducherry, five went to Karaikal. “The bus service begins at 5 a.m. and ends at 10.30 p.m. Three bus drivers and conductors are appointed and we work in two shifts,” said a bus driver.
P. Devaraj, managing director, PRTC, said that the bus has a seating capacity for 20 people and can take the narrow inner roads since it is small in size. “They reach interior lanes and villages. It is affordable for the poor as the bus fare is only Rs 5. There are many who cannot pay Rs. 150 for the auto rickshaws. To improve the accessibility for people living in interior villages where the transportation is not available, another five buses will be introduced. We are identifying the areas and it will be finalised soon,” he said.
Increase buses
However, a few commuters opine that people would benefit if the transport corporation increased the number of buses to at least two for a particular route. “One bus is not enough. Since the seating capacity is also less, it would be better if they increased the number of buses,” said A. Velmurugan, a commuter.
