Kolkata: The state transport department deployed at least 66 additional buses on Friday to maintain connectivity between Kolkata and north Bengal after railway services were disrupted by track subsidence near Farakka, transport minister Arjun Singh said on Friday.The emergency arrangements include special Kolkata–Siliguri services and additional buses on routes connecting Malda, Balurghat and Durgapur. Six extra buses had also been operated on Thursday night.On the Kolkata–Siliguri route, 23 additional buses have been deployed, while an existing Kolkata–Malda service has been extended to Siliguri. Eighteen buses are scheduled to operate from Siliguri to Kolkata, including 12 additional services.The department also introduced two additional buses each on the Durgapur–Balurghat and Kolkata–Balurghat routes. Five buses have been deployed between Malda and Kolkata.To accommodate passengers stranded by the railway disruption, six special buses will leave Kolkata’s New Esplanade bus terminus for the Siliguri NGP bus terminus at 5.30 pm, 6.30 pm, 7.30 pm, 8.30 pm, 9 pm and 9.30 pm.The managing directors of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation and South Bengal State Transport Corporation have been instructed to deploy more buses wherever necessary, depending on passenger demand.District magistrates have also been asked to coordinate with private bus operators and prevent any unreasonable increase in fares during the disruption. Private buses may be requisitioned on an emergency basis if the state-run fleet is unable to meet demand.The transport department said it was closely monitoring the situation and would introduce further services if required to ensure uninterrupted passenger movement between Kolkata and north Bengal.
