Commuters Harassed Due to Waterlogging at State Transport Corporation Main Gate Following Light Rains; Partial Ban on Bus Operations on Vikramshila Bridge Leads to Sharp Decline in Passenger Footfall

Commuters Harassed Due to Waterlogging at State Transport Corporation Main Gate Following Light Rains; Partial Ban on Bus Operations on Vikramshila Bridge Leads to Sharp Decline in Passenger Footfall

Bhagalpur, Chief Correspondent: The activation of the monsoon and recent light showers in Bhagalpur have exposed the hollow claims of the district administration regarding its urban drainage system. Following not torrential or heavy downpours, but merely light rain on Tuesday, knee-deep water accumulated right at the main entrance gate of the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC), considered one of the city's busiest zones. Due to this severe waterlogging crisis, office-going employees are facing immense humiliation, while general commuters coming to catch buses find it nearly impossible to walk through the area. On the other hand, due to massive traffic jams and administrative restrictions on the vital Vikramshila Bridge connecting North Bihar and Jharkhand, partial curbs have been placed on bus operations, resulting in a sharp decline in passenger numbers for the transport corporation.

Just Light Rains Turn the Transport Corporation Gate into a Pond

Adjoining Bhagalpur railway station and the core city, the BSRTC campus is generally regarded as a prominent transit point in the city, but after even a little rain, the scene here resembles a pond or a lake. Following light rain on Wednesday morning, due to the lack of proper drainage arrangements outside the corporation's main gate, water spilled over and pooled across the roads.

The situation deteriorated to the extent that:

Immense Trouble for Passengers: Passengers reaching the bus stand or the corporation office had to trudge through filthy and waterlogged streets. The luggage, shoes, and slippers of many commuters got drenched in the water.

Arbitrary Fares by Auto and E-Rickshaw Drivers: Taking advantage of the water accumulated at the main gate, auto and toto drivers began extracting arbitrary fares from passengers, as no vehicle driver was willing to drive right up to the gate.

Plight of the Elderly and Women: Women, senior citizens, and small children had to struggle immensely to cross this waterlogged stretch. Local shopkeepers and passersby state that due to the apathy of the municipal corporation and the transport department, this hellish situation arises after every single bout of light rain.

Major Crisis Due to Halted Bus Operations on Vikramshila Bridge

While waterlogging has compounded local troubles, clouds of crisis also hover over the transport corporation's fleet heading towards North Bihar (Naugachia, Katihar, Purnia, Saharsa, etc.). Due to daily massive traffic jams and dilapidated road conditions on the Vikramshila Bridge built over the Ganga River, the administration has imposed partial restrictions on the regular movement of heavy vehicles and buses from a safety perspective.

The disruption of normal bus operations on the Vikramshila Bridge has severely impacted the business and daily functioning of the transport corporation. Routes where dozens of buses used to zoom past now wear a deserted look. However, a select few buses are still operating at their own risk via alternative routes or special permissions granted by the administration, but their numbers are extremely low.

Sharp Decline in Passenger Count, Revenue Loss for Corporation

The inability to run buses smoothly on the Vikramshila Bridge has directly impacted the volume of passengers arriving at the bus stand. According to information received from transport corporation officials, compared to normal days, the current passenger footfall at the bus stand has registered a massive drop of 50 to 60 percent.

Wasted Time and Uncertainty: Passengers remain clueless about which bus will reach its destination on time, as people have grown reluctant to travel by road out of fear of getting stuck in 2-to-3-hour jams on the bridge.

Shift Towards Trains: Due to the unreliability of bus services, passengers are now compelled to rely on trains or other alternative modes of transport from Bhagalpur Junction, leaving the ticket counters of the State Road Transport Corporation deserted.

Some Buses Still Operating, Passengers Forced to Take Risks

Even though the wheels of most buses have come to a halt on the Vikramshila Bridge, the transport corporation continues to operate a select few long-distance and local route buses keeping the emergency needs of passengers in mind.

These buses are either dispatched early in the morning (when traffic pressure is low) or routed via alternative and longer paths toward their destinations.

Passengers traveling in these limited buses are forced to endure double the travel time and extra fares, yet they are compelled to board them just to reach their destinations.

Questions Raised Against the Administration and Department

Intellectual citizens and daily commuters of Bhagalpur have expressed deep outrage against the district administration and transport corporation officials. They question why a concrete drainage plan is not formulated in advance to tackle waterlogging issues during the rainy season. Furthermore, they ask why the administration is failing to find a permanent solution to the traffic jam problem on the Vikramshila Bridge.

The waterlogging outside the State Transport Corporation's main gate following light rain in Bhagalpur, alongside the disruptions in bus operations on the Vikramshila Bridge, starkly highlights administrative laxity and the lack of basic infrastructure. Until permanent arrangements for drainage near the main gate are put in place and traffic on the bridge is streamlined, the transport corporation will continue to suffer financial losses, and the general public will remain subjected to distress.