Bus drivers asked to pick max passengers in winter

MEERUT: As winter season approaches, there are negligible chances that you will miss a Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus due to lack of seat. To ensure that no passengers are left out in the shivering cold, bus drivers in the entire state have been instructed to increase the load factor of each bus to 65% and ensure that maximum passengers are picked up during journey.
In lay man’s language, this means no bus will run until 65% of its seats are occupied.
Detailing on the move, Pervez Bashir, assistant regional manager, Sohrab Gate bus depot, said, “According to the recent government order from the state headquarters, instructions have been given to the drivers in the state to increase the load factor to 65% and ensure that no buses run with a load factor lower than this. This step will ensure that no passengers are left stranded on roads during winter season.”
Authorities say that as temperatures dip further, the number of passengers tend to reduce. Despite this, drivers tend to leave for their destination without many passengers to ensure they cut down their trips to a minimum and don’t have to stay on roads during cold weather.
“The instructions have come from Lucknow headquarters of UPSRTC and will be followed in the entire state. Due to winter season, many passengers complaint that the drivers don’t stop by; but now it will be mandatory for them to increase their load factor or they will have to face penalty,” said Manoj Pundir, UPSRTC Meerut regional manager.
Load factor refers to the percentage of passengers travelling in the bus at a given time and is calculated depending on the total capacity of the bus.