Shillong: Shillong's Ka Bos Jong Ngi bus service is hitting a wall. Commuters love the rides, but the daily reality is a suffocating crush of bodies during peak hours. The system launched in February with a fleet of 29 air-conditioned diesel buses. It started as a pilot on the IIM Shillong to Upper Shillong route with 15 vehicles to test the waters. By July 3, the government flagged off the second phase at the ISBT, extending service to the ISBT Shillong to Lad Smit route.
The buses draw praise for their professional drivers and conductors who handle ticketing with honesty. Tech-savvy riders can now track bus locations via a new mobile app, though they still cannot buy tickets through the software. Passengers remain wary of the future. They fear these buses will fall into disrepair like the old JNNURM and SPTS fleets. Keeping them clean is a must.
Demand is clearly outstripping capacity. One regular rider noted, “The bus services are quite good but they must do something about the crowding.” Commuters are now calling on the government to act fast. They want more buses on the road to thin out the throngs of people jamming the aisles every day.
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