The scene at Palampur bus stand
The return from Neugal Cafe was on foot and i headed straight to the Palampur bus stand. It was probably quarter to five or some minutes before when my wait began for a govt bus. The stress on a govt bus was to do with the fact that it would be least troublesome and a Dharamsala direct would be handy. There are 10 platforms in all here with destinations like Panchrukhi, Kosri, Lamba Gaon, Jaisinghpur, Sulah, Malah, Dharamsala, Saroot, Jammu Katra, Pathankot, Chamba, Kullu, Manali, Shimla and Delhi. The HRTC bus stand Palampur with a covered roof is bang opposite the platforms. On the left side of the platforms is a shopping complex and on the right side is a public convenience.
There are confectionaries and other stores in the structure that has platforms; notably N K Sweets and confectioners, A K Sweets and confectionary (STD booth included) and Vijay confectionery. Brisk sale is reported from one dishing out samosa, bread pakora and aloo chat. As for N K Sweets, nine to 10 cartons of mineral water are unloaded late in the evening and i am told that all would be exhausted before the next evening. There is a mobile store as well that sees small attendance as thin as one seen in adda prabhari office.
Around half past five i visit the reservation counter manned by a personnel to enquire about a direct govt bus for Dharamsala. He is not communicative and remains so for most of the equiries directed to him. This reservation personnel has his moments of high when freed from the clutches of those who wish to make reservation he makes it a point to hold fort. Commensurate with his fort-holding activity he makes it a point to scream and crack jokes. The freedom that has been bestowed on him by the transport department makes him the boss and whoever has to approach him has to address him "Sir" and bend to a point when he is sitting so that it is convenient enough for him to answer to the commuter's query.
There is a enquiry counter as well where this reservation personnel makes a dash to make his presence felt. This reservation personnel and the aura surrounding his fief may be true for most of the bus stands in the country and most of the commuters are at their mercy. As for Dharamsala direct bus, varied explanations come ranging from it has gone for repair and would be plying soon to "advice' from those working in the govt transport department that i better try a private bus. The wait is enduring enough to see that at least five private buses come and head towards Dharamsala. For other destinations as well the maximum rush is shown by private buses. There are govt buses for some destinations like Pathankot and Delhi; the latter seeing the maximum rush. In the Delhi melee, some have been stranded and some have managed to get in after trying every persuasive skills. It is around 8.20 in the evening that Dharamsala direct comes and there is no dearth of passengers who want to board. Before boarding the bus this thought crosses my mind that if govt itself starts ceding space to private bus operators who would be blamed for poor bus service. More you cede space to private buswallahs, more you are leaving the commuters in a lurch.
The entire day exercise proved that be it private or govt, the bus staff are overworked and overprotected. The bus staff in the govt sector can be tailormade to passengers' convenience. But nothing can be said for private operators who for long have had a free run. In the National Capital, the private operators have been shown the door and those plying the chartered services would have to be rule adherents as transport is a sector that should be largely managed by govt if private entities fail to work within established norms. In other states as well, the govt of the day should see to it that undue favours are not given to private operators who are least bothered about commuters and more concerned with profit thunder. Thunder that is keeping the commuters on a back foot.
The return from Neugal Cafe was on foot and i headed straight to the Palampur bus stand. It was probably quarter to five or some minutes before when my wait began for a govt bus. The stress on a govt bus was to do with the fact that it would be least troublesome and a Dharamsala direct would be handy. There are 10 platforms in all here with destinations like Panchrukhi, Kosri, Lamba Gaon, Jaisinghpur, Sulah, Malah, Dharamsala, Saroot, Jammu Katra, Pathankot, Chamba, Kullu, Manali, Shimla and Delhi. The HRTC bus stand Palampur with a covered roof is bang opposite the platforms. On the left side of the platforms is a shopping complex and on the right side is a public convenience.
There are confectionaries and other stores in the structure that has platforms; notably N K Sweets and confectioners, A K Sweets and confectionary (STD booth included) and Vijay confectionery. Brisk sale is reported from one dishing out samosa, bread pakora and aloo chat. As for N K Sweets, nine to 10 cartons of mineral water are unloaded late in the evening and i am told that all would be exhausted before the next evening. There is a mobile store as well that sees small attendance as thin as one seen in adda prabhari office.
Around half past five i visit the reservation counter manned by a personnel to enquire about a direct govt bus for Dharamsala. He is not communicative and remains so for most of the equiries directed to him. This reservation personnel has his moments of high when freed from the clutches of those who wish to make reservation he makes it a point to hold fort. Commensurate with his fort-holding activity he makes it a point to scream and crack jokes. The freedom that has been bestowed on him by the transport department makes him the boss and whoever has to approach him has to address him "Sir" and bend to a point when he is sitting so that it is convenient enough for him to answer to the commuter's query.
There is a enquiry counter as well where this reservation personnel makes a dash to make his presence felt. This reservation personnel and the aura surrounding his fief may be true for most of the bus stands in the country and most of the commuters are at their mercy. As for Dharamsala direct bus, varied explanations come ranging from it has gone for repair and would be plying soon to "advice' from those working in the govt transport department that i better try a private bus. The wait is enduring enough to see that at least five private buses come and head towards Dharamsala. For other destinations as well the maximum rush is shown by private buses. There are govt buses for some destinations like Pathankot and Delhi; the latter seeing the maximum rush. In the Delhi melee, some have been stranded and some have managed to get in after trying every persuasive skills. It is around 8.20 in the evening that Dharamsala direct comes and there is no dearth of passengers who want to board. Before boarding the bus this thought crosses my mind that if govt itself starts ceding space to private bus operators who would be blamed for poor bus service. More you cede space to private buswallahs, more you are leaving the commuters in a lurch.
The entire day exercise proved that be it private or govt, the bus staff are overworked and overprotected. The bus staff in the govt sector can be tailormade to passengers' convenience. But nothing can be said for private operators who for long have had a free run. In the National Capital, the private operators have been shown the door and those plying the chartered services would have to be rule adherents as transport is a sector that should be largely managed by govt if private entities fail to work within established norms. In other states as well, the govt of the day should see to it that undue favours are not given to private operators who are least bothered about commuters and more concerned with profit thunder. Thunder that is keeping the commuters on a back foot.
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