Jaipur: What should be a routine commute to college or hospital has become a daily ordeal for students and patients visiting Haridev Joshi University (HJU), Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Law University, Govt College Bagru, Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit University and the Govt Sub-District Hospital in Bagru, all of which lack direct public transport connectivity, forcing commuters to spend hours, change multiple buses and cover the last few kilometres on foot or by expensive autos.For students studying in these institutions, missing one bus can mean missing a lecture. To understand why, TOI retraced the daily commute to Haridev Joshi University of Journalism and Mass Communication. The journey began on a packed low-floor bus from Gopalpura to Heerapura. From there, it was a dash to catch another bus for Bagru; missing it would mean waiting for the next bus for 30-45 min. After getting off at Highway King stop (Dehmi Balaji), the campus was still 2.5 km away.An auto demanded ₹100-150, shared e-rickshaws were scarce, and the only alternatives were to walk or hope for a lift from a passing vehicle. The route to the campus is an exposed stretch with little to no shade, leaving students to walk in the blazing summer sun, brave the rain during the monsoon and return in the dark on winter evenings. Students said hitching rides from strangers, ambulances and other motorists has become a routine part of reaching class.Students said the lack of buses has directly affected attendance and admissions. With no hostel facility on campus, most students have to commute daily from Jaipur and nearby areas. A third-year BJMC student at HJU said only three of the 40 students in her class attend regularly, with two of them being local residents. Another student from Malviya Nagar said his daily travel expenses often exceed his tuition fee several times over.At Govt College Bagru, students said attendance suffers for the same reason. A BA student from Begas village said a bus service would encourage more girls to attend classes regularly, while another student claimed only about 50 of the 200 students in his class turn up on most days. Manisha Parewa, who travels 18 km from Mokhampura, spends around ₹100 daily and often seeks lifts when she is too tired to walk.The problem extends beyond education. Patients visiting the Govt Sub-District Hospital said they spend ₹150-250 on transport, while a man accompanying his pregnant wife from Mahlan said women in his family could travel independently if a bus service were available.At Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit University, located about 8 km from Bhankrota bus stand, commuting remains a daily challenge for day scholars. “Travelling to college is a daily struggle. I take the No. 11 bus to Malpura Gate, then a tempo from Muhana Mod, and finally walk about 4 km or depend on lifts to reach the university. I spend nearly ₹150 every day just on travel,” said Rohitash Sharma, a second-year BA/BSc Yoga student from Beelwa near Chokhi Dhani.Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Law University, which serves almost 45,000 students from 87 affiliated colleges across Rajasthan, is also around 4 km from the nearest bus stop. Officials said students frequently travel long distances to submit physical documents and hoped bus connectivity would be in place before classes begin at the campus.“Better public transport is essential for the growth of the university. Being Rajasthan’s only Sanskrit university, it attracts students from across the state, but poor connectivity affects the outcome,” said Kosalendradas, assistant professor.“We expect classes to start either this session or the next. However, it would be better if bus services begin first, as the route to the university is unsafe in all weather conditions,” said an official from Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Law University.
