ASTC's bus, Cachar Police's escort are ready but there is no passenger in Silchar; Signs of Bandh evident

Bandh or no bandh! The debate has been going on for the last few days. The left-leaning political parties and students’ bodies have been campaigning to ensure that the general public participates to make it effective. The business fraternity, on the other hand, urged the shopkeepers and private enterprises to do their business as usual. They also appealed to the Police to provide security to those who open their shops and businesses.

Silchar woke up to the scorching sun once again. The mercury continues to rise and the blue sky overhead signifies the depression of Bay of Bengal is far away. Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) had informed yesterday that it will operate its bus service as usual. At 6:30 am, the bus drivers, handymen and other staff reached the depot. Cachar Police’s escort was also stationed there.

“Not a single passenger arrived to avail the service and so, after waiting a while, the escort got busy elsewhere. So far, ONGC bus has departed with passengers and is being escorted by Police. Apart from that, the line buses do not have any passengers. We have the bus ready in each line we operate, but without passengers, it is meaningless to drive through,” said the ASTC official in Silchar.

“In each stand, there are buses parked. The buses are even waiting post-schedule but there are hardly any passengers. Similarly, buses that left from Katlicherra are also witnessing hardly any passengers, the situation is same in each line,” the official added.

For the benefit of the general public, the official informed that ASTC buses are available in Bazaricherra, Ramnathpur, Binnakandi and Katlicherra routes.