GUWAHATI: Commuters in Guwahati are facing a torrid time with at least 200 city buses having been requisitioned by the authorities for the second phase of panchayat elections on Wednesday, May 7. This has left an acute shortage of buses to cope with the demand.
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Daily commuters on Tuesday were found struggling to find transport, especially during evening hours when most were returning home from work. At key junctions like Apsara bus stand, Beltola, buses have nearly vanished from the roads.
Talking to GPlus, Kunal Basumatary said, “I was waiting for over 45 minutes in Apsara bus stand for a city bus to go home from office. There was no update, and autos are charging double fares.”
In Beltola, another commuter said, “This happens during every election. City buses are my only mode of transport, and with most of them off the roads, we are left stranded or forced to spend more on private options.”
However, talking to GPlus, a member of the City Bus Association confirmed that 200 buses have been taken off the roads due to official orders. “We have no choice when orders come from higher authorities,” the official said.
For now, residents across the city are left to manage on their own until the buses return to normal operations after the elections.