City bus service fails to keep launch date

GURGAON: Haryana Roadways has again failed to keep date with the city bus service which was to begin by the end of April. While the basic infrastructure and manpower including new buses, drivers and conductors have been in place for quite some time now, internal issues are reportedly delaying the start of the service.
Haryana Roadways is planning to bring changes in the route starting covering Rajiv Chowk, Medicity Hospital and Sectors 32, 39, 31, 40 among others, considering low number of passengers, making it financially unprofitable.
A separate team including a person in charge of duty and eight other staff will take care of the bus service, said a source. However, an official, who is part of the newly-formed team, said they have not got any intimation about the routes, fare list, drivers and conductors as of now.
Meanwhile, Haryana Roadways GM (Gurgaon) Yashendra Singh said the service will be launched in the next 2-3 days.
As many as 25 brand new buses, manufactured by an Ambala-based company, and an another three funded by the Haryana Roadways Engineering Corporation are lying at the Gurgaon bus depot. Besides, 19 old buses will be deployed for now, but will be phased out soon.
While 128 bus drivers have already joined, most of the 175 conductors have reported for duty and also undergone a 5-day training programme. Twelve buses will run in two shifts on each route from 6am to 10pm, with frequency of 20 minutes.
The ticket fares have been fixed at Rs 5, 10 and 15 for up to 4km, up to 8km and above respectively.