Help dissolve traffic congestion by taking the bus for Rs. 10-25
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 17
A feat to transform mobility strategies in Nagaland has finally come out of its bout by resuming city bus services in Dimapur where traffic and road condition are a cause for angst.
City Pink Buses, a welfare programme for women, will start commuting in Dimapur and Kohima. City bus Dimapur will ferry from Dimapur railway station to Chümoukedima. It was resumed on September 16.
In a short programme here at NST Dimapur Station, City Pink buses and resumption of City Bus Service were formally flagged off by P Paiwang Konyak, Nagaland Minister for Transport & Civil Aviation, Railways & Land Resources.
Konyak, during a press conference after the formal flagging off, informed that the buses were earlier procured through the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) buses which were left abandoned at the Transport department. Five out of the fourteen have now been refurbished and renewed, he said. The minister hoped that more repairable buses will be wheeled in the coming days.
“City bus service in the past was discontinued due to shortfall of buses,” he informed.
Stating that the pink buses for women are a first of its kind in the North East, Konyak said, “We hope it will not be just an introduction but will go a long way.”
He also expressed that the city pink buses, two each, for Dimapur and Kohima will facilitate women and ensure their safety.
When asked who will assist the buses, he stated that both bus driver and conductor for now will be men but will soon invite women folks to independently assist the buses.
Pointing out that the duty of the transport department is to provide service for people at the grassroots and reach any part of the state, irrespective of road or weather condition with minimal fare, he aspired for the department to introduce such services in other districts too.
Konyak informed that night super services were introduced for Kiphire and Pungro few months back. He also stated that the fares will range from Rs. 10 to 25. The bus ferrying from Dimapur to Chümoukedima will have 22 stoppage points.
Kenilo Apon, Secretary Transport Department, Government of Nagaland, in an introductory speech observed that although gender inequality or the rate of violence against women in Nagaland is less, it was the desire of the Minister and the transport department to provide public welfare services for women.
Encouraging people to avail the public transport service, he added that the initiative can lessen one person, one car in Nagaland and impact traffic congestion not immediately but progressively with the government and public complimenting each other’s duty.
“Two is less but I hope, very soon, more buses are introduced, so that I will sit on a pink bus everyday to attend my duties instead of the hassle to catch and run after the bus,” a woman who attended the inauguration observed.
A taxi driver waiting for his turn to ply passengers shared that some women prefer to sit with women whil
e travelling, so he suggested that pink buses for longer journeys on alternate days will be highly appreciated. “Pink is so girly and sweet, it is a very good idea,” a student giggled with her friend while they were taking a picture of the bus.
The buses were flagged off in the presence of members of the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA). Tonlong Konyak, Pastor, Konyak Baptist Church pronounced the dedicatory prayer.
