In a bid to facilitate ease of commute to the Madhyamik aspirants, the state transport department has announced special bus and tram services for the examinees.
According to an order issued by the department, considering the upcoming exam that is scheduled to start from 2 February, the state government is to operate ‘Examination Special’ services in 12 routes. For this, the department would operate buses in routes namely E-6 from Esplanade-Amta, C-2A from Tollygunge-Ghatakpukur, C-7 from H.M. Ghosh College-Howrah Station, C-8 Barasat-Joka, C-23 Park Circus-Dankuni, C-26 from Howrah-Baruipur, T-3 from Rajabazar-Ghatakpukur,C-37 from Amtala-Howrah, T-8 from Belgachia/B.B.D. Bag-Tikiapara, C-29 from Barrackpore Court -Champadali, T-10 from Rajabazar-Chaital and D-1A Barasat-Tollygunge.
As per the order, the examination special buses are to be run in morning and afternoon shifts with two buses allotted at both ends in each spell. In the morning shift, one bus would be placed at 7.45 am and the other at 8.15 am at both ends. In the afternoon shift, one bus is to be placed at 1.15 pm while another at 1.45 pm at both the ends. The department has also decided to keep two non-air conditioned buses on stand-by at Esplanade compound between 7.30 am to 3 pm for utilizing them during any situations of emergency. The vehicles are to have an ‘Examination Special’ board on display on the front side of the buses that are to be operated on 2, 3,5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12 February. The department is increasing the frequency of buses between 5.30 am to 10 am and from 1pm to 5 pm.
The transport department is to open a control room for the examinees having numbers as 869773391 and 92. Aiming to keep sufficient manpower available during the board exams, the department has also decided to impose leave restrictions for the crew members during the period.
Not only buses, those availing trams would also be able to avail one in select routes during the examination period. The transport department has declared running of ‘Examination Special’ trams in route number 5 from Shyambazar-Esplanade via College Street, 24/29 Tollygunge-Ballygunge via Rashbehari and 25 between Gariahat-Esplanade via Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road.
Going in sync with the department, the private operators have also decided to run services from 5 am in the city with more frequency till 10 am and during the afternoon. Unlike the other times of the year when there are fewer buses hitting the city roads during lunch hour, the operators have asked their drivers and conductors to shorten their lunch duration and ply more services during that time of the day.
Like the state go state government, the railways have also announced to provide additional stoppages for the Madhyamik examinees. Sealdah Division of the Eastern Railway has decided to provide additional stoppages of the EMU/ passenger trains running between 8 am to 9.45 am and 1 pm to 2.30 pm at Palta, Jagaddal, Kankinara, Payradanga and Jalalkhali Halt stations in Sealdah – Ranaghat – Krishnanagar section and Sanhati and Bibhuti Bhushan Halt station in Barasat – Bongaon section on select dates during the Madhyamik examination. According to the divisional railway, the additional stoppages are to be provided on eight days on 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9,10 and 12 February.