Homebound people

It is the same old story. The tickets are available in the black market at much higher prices. Regrettably, this is true not only about the privately owned bus services but also about the train and steamers operated by government agencies. The result is that the helpless and worried passengers are making frantic efforts to buy tickets.

The suffering that the people were subjected to last year should serve as a pointer as to what kind of experience they usually have while making home-bound journeys. A huge number of them remained stuck at the river terminal for nearly two days and had to celebrate Eid at the half-way stage of the arduous bus trips. The question is, why cannot the authorities concerned take the measures that would greatly reduce the suffering of people? The illegal business that transport operators in both the public and private sectors indulge in at the cost of the people has gone on unabated year after year. They are exploiting the helplessness of people in a planned way, yet the law enforcers are not doing anything to foil their machination.

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People are not asking for too much -- they want to buy tickets at a fair price. The railway and BIWTA authorities usually introduce some special trains or steamers which do very little to ease the pressure. What the decision-makers need to do is to assess the whole situation accurately and take the necessary steps. The number of homebound people during such festivals has increased manifold in the recent years, but there has been no corresponding increase in the number of trains and steamers. The whole task of providing transportation facilities for people during festive occasions has to be brought under a clear, need-oriented action plan.

As for the private operators, their activities should be kept under close vigil, so that black marketeers cannot take control of the situation. Much has been said and written about the issue. When will the authorities wake up to a dire need of the people?