Protest over closure of 1.5 km stretch of Shastri Rail Over Bridge.
Around 30,000 daily passengers who board buses from Sarvate and travel to Ujjain, Agar and adjoining area had to face tough time on Sunday as bus operators went on a sudden strike.
The operators shut down the bus service in afternoon after Indore Municipal Corporation closed the stretch between Bal Vinay Mandir and Shastri Railway Over Bridge. The stretch will remain closed for next three months due to construction of link road between Vishranti Square and Sarvate bus stand.
Seeing no end to the strike, the harassed passengers finally rushed to railway station to catch the earliest train to their destinations.
“We arrived at the stand at 8.30 pm and were surprised to find no buses here. The sudden strike has created problem for us as we can’t go back home and we have no relative or friends in the city with whom we can stay for night,” said Maniram Makwana, a resident of Bagli, Dewas.
Makwana had come to the city to go to his son’s place in Ujjain to pay obeisance to Mahakal on occasion of Somwati Amawasya on Monday. He was accompanied by his relatives, all senior citizens. After waiting for an hour, the group left for railway station to catch the train.
Vipin, a resident of Ujjain had come to Indore with eight of his family members and all of them were planning to catch a bus from Sarvate bus stand at 7pm. “After waiting for two hours, we rushed to railway station so that we did not miss the train too,” said Vipin.
Another passenger Rajan, who was also going to Ujjain with his family, expressed anguish against the bus operators for the sudden strike. “My children who are of tender age will have to suffer in cold for we don’t not know when they will resume the service ,” lamented Rajan.
Another passenger PK Barot of Ujjain said that he visits Indore very often and prefers travelling in bus. On Sunday, he had to struggle to get a seat in Shanti Express after returning from bus stand.
“I will have to suffer in the general compartment and will reach home late in the night despite starting the journey early in the evening,” said Barot.
Narbada, who was accompanied by her husband, was lucky to get a seat in Shanti Express after finding no bus at the stand. “Although I have got a seat, I will reach home very late and someone will have to come to railway station to receive us,” she said.
The bus operators said that traffic diversion put in place by the police was incorrect decision as the move will cost them extra and they will also lose on passengers. “The traffic police diverted the route for construction of road from Shastri Bridge to Raj Kumar Bridge. Since it will take three months, the bus operators as well as passengers will have to suffer,” said president of Prime Route Bus Operators Association, Govind Sharma.
“The diversion will not only increase the diesel consumption but also increase travel time of the buses,” added Sharma.
A few passengers were seen boarding Rajasthan Parivahan Nigam bus for Ujjain which was already full to its capacity. Heavy rush was also witnessed in the trains going towards Ujjain.
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