GUWAHATI: Giving a new dimension to convenience and comfort for the passengers to undertake journey, Chief Minister SarbanandaSonowal flagged off 20 modern Bharat Benz buses at a programme held at Assam Administrative Staff College here on Friday.
The inducted buses will operate between LGBI Airport, Guwahati and Silchar, Dibrugarh&Jorhat respectively. Additionally, new day services have also been started between Dhubri – Guwahati, Lakhimpur – Tezpur routes and in the hilly regions of Haflong and Diphu to Hojai.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal said that with rolling off the fleet of the buses, Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) has very competitively emerged to serve the people of the State. Stating that though the people of the State had negative impression towards efficacy of the ASTC, the present State government with timely and right kind of intervention has changed the weaknesses of ASTC into its strength and as a result the organization has attained dynamism in its operation.
He also said that there should be qualitative improvement of the bus services of the ASTC. He at the same time observed that Prime Minister of the country NarendraModi with his inspirational leadership has brought about remarkable changes not only in the developmental narratives of the country but also in creating positive temperament to the people. Guided and inspired by the Prime Minister, Government of Assam has also ventured in to bring about positive and qualitative changes in the development contour of the state.
Considering several cancer patients of the State who go to Mumbai for advanced oncological treatment, Sonowal asked the ASTC authority to start bus service within one week to facilitate their conveyance from Assam Bhawan to hospital.
Speaking on the occasion, Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary thanked the employees of the ASTC for rendering their duties dedicatedly during the COVID 19 pandemic. He at the same time announced that the corporation would very shortly start pink bus services free of cost for the women as well as free bus services for the senior citizens.
Commissioner and Secretary Dr. K.K. Dwivedi gave the welcome address in the meeting which was also spoken by Chairman of ASTC Ashok Kumar Bhatta Roy its Vice Chairman HaricharanBoro and CEO Daimler Bus India Karl Alexander. Chief Minister's Legal Adviser SantanuBharali, MD ASTC AP Tiwari and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.