Aurangabad, June 15:
Raat Rani, a special bus service of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) is drawing low response from passengers compared to private travel agencies service.
Significantly, the fare of MSRTC is less compared to private buses. There are 1213 drivers and 931 conductors of ST Mandal in the district. The number of passengers going to Mumbai is higher and there is a rush of farmers and general passengers inter-district journey. Business establishments and industries started on district levels, so workers who had gone to their native places were returning towards the city. Passengers are thronging bus stands but, the rush is in private luxury buses is double.
The buses for Mumbai and Pune are witnessing more rush from the city.
The private buses which have higher fare against MSRTC take passengers without any halt. Online booking for a journey by private buses increased a lot.
Divisional controller Arun Siya said that people remained indoors in Covid lockdown.
“After the relaxations were lifted, there is a rush of passengers. They are asked to wear a mask and use sanitiser during the journey. The strength of passengers travelling on Nagpur and Mumbai routes is high. The number of intra-district is also good. A total of 260 trips of buses were carried out.
Efforts are being made to provide a safe journey. Long route bus journey like ‘Raat Rani’ commenced,” he added.
There are 20 buses for Raat Rani service.