The state government’s move to resume resumption inter-state bus service from November 8 just ahead of Diwali and Chhath Puja has made the Bihar-bound passengers make a beeline at Dhanbad bus depot to book advance tickets.

According to the depot officials, most of the bookings and queries are for Aurangabad, Bihar Sharif, Patna, and Nawada bound buses. The operators believe that since many popular Bihar-bound trains like Ganga Damodar Express (running between Dhanbad and Patna), Dhanbad-Gaya Intercity express are yet to resume their services, has resulted in this sudden rush.

Talking to The Telegraph Online today, Sunil Singh, Joint Secretary of Dhanbad Bus Owners Association, said, “We have received maximum bookings for Bihar Sharif, Aurangabad, and Patna buses. Almost all tickets are booked for November 16 and 17. However, booking is available for other dates.”

Singh, who is also the owner of Sunil Deluxe Transport, added, “We are happy that inter-state bus operation has resumed after a gap of around eight months. We are hopeful that the flow of passengers will continue to be healthy even after Chhath Puja. However, we are witnessing a comparatively lesser flow of passengers for intra-state buses like Dhanbad to Ranchi, Bokaro, Itkhori, and Hazaribagh bound buses.”

Singh added, “We have had to invest around Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh for each bus that will resume its service. Each bus is being repaired and refurbished. Their insurance and fitness certificates have also been renewed.”

However, the clause to maintain social distancing is troubling the bus operators. Sumit Singh, the owner of Bundela Travels, said, “We have been asked to operate with half of the sitting capacity of the buses to maintain social distancing. We also have to sanitise the buses and maintain other safety measures. Hence we have raised the fare.”

The bus fare has now been almost doubled for any journey. For instance, to travel from Dhanbad to Bihar Sharif now will cost Rs 520 instead of Rs 260, while the pocket pinch for a Dhanbad to Patna journey will be Rs 600 per passenger instead of Rs 300. Bus fare Dhanbad to Burdwan has been doubled to Rs 260. A passenger travelling from Dhanbad to Asansol, now has to pay Rs 120 (instead of 60) for his fare.

Several booking queries for Bengal bound buses including, Dhanbad to Calcutta, Dhanbad to Asansol, Dhanbad to Durgapur, Dhanbad to Raniganj, etc have also been made.

“We have faced extremely difficult days during the last eight months of lockdown. We have had to pay our staff without earning a penny,” said Singh. The operators have requested the district administration to ensure payment for the ferrying of migrant labours to different parts of Jharkhand as per the district administration.