In a sharp critique of the state administration, senior political activist and former councillor Parminder Mehta has called on the Punjab government to immediately reinstate the city bus service in Ludhiana. He accused the government of failing to deliver on a key election promise made to the city's residents.
A Promise Forgotten: Four Years of Inaction
Mehta pointed out that despite the government completing four years in office, no appropriate steps have been taken to restart this essential public transport system. He recalled that the ruling dispensation had promised not only to restart the service but also to repair the old, existing buses. However, the reality on the ground tells a different story of neglect.
Buses Gathering Dust, Turning to Scrap
Expressing his anger, Mehta highlighted the fate of the buses meant for the service. Instead of being repaired, they have been left parked in a vacant plot near the Ludhiana West Tehsildar office. "They are gathering dust and gradually turning into scrap," he stated. This visual of decaying buses stands in stark contrast to the pressing need for a functional public transport network in a rapidly expanding city like Ludhiana.
The Severe Impact on Ludhiana's Residents
The former councillor elaborated on the severe consequences of the absent bus service. The lack of affordable public transport forces residents to rely on more expensive private options like bikes, cars, and taxis. Resuming the city bus service would relieve people of the burden of costly private taxi services, he argued.
Furthermore, Mehta emphasized that a reliable bus service is crucial to addressing the twin crises of chronic traffic congestion and air pollution plaguing the city. The service has been struggling for years due to poor planning and disputes between management and the private operator, with commuters bearing the brunt of the failure.
Residents continue to demand a dependable bus network on all major routes. Such a service is seen as vital not just for mobility but also to help regulate the often chaotic movement of auto-rickshaws and mini-private buses, thereby bringing order to the city's transport ecosystem.
