As Holi fervor builds across Uttar Pradesh, the state transport department is gearing up with a robust festival special operation. From February 28 to March 9, extra buses will flood routes from major cities, easing the annual homecoming pilgrimage.
Minister Dayashankar Singh, overseeing transport, pointed to western UP hotspots like Delhi and Ghaziabad as pressure points. ‘Extra buses and personnel are already in place there. We’ll scale up statewide if depots hit 60% load factor early on,’ he assured.
No tolerance for downtime: All UPSRTC buses must stay operational, and private contract operators are barred from granting holidays to their teams. Owners face mandates to fix vehicles ahead of time. Accident prevention and jam clearance top the priority list, backed by persistent enforcement patrols and mandatory sobriety checks for drivers.
Technical inspections will verify everything from engines to emergency extinguishers, ensuring seats and glasses are intact. Hygiene standards at stops and inside buses will be upheld rigorously. The incentive scheme sweetens the deal for top performers.
Chalk up 300 km daily? That’s Rs 360/day, or Rs 3,600 total. Perfect attendance over ten days with benchmarks hit earns Rs 4,500. Exceed mileage norms, and snag 55 paise/km extra. Depot workers score Rs 2,100 for full duty, Rs 1,800 for nine days. Regional panels can nominate stars for further bonuses.
Kudos in the form of certificates await managers from the highest revenue-generating areas and depots. This multifaceted approach not only promises seamless Holi journeys but also boosts morale among transport warriors, setting a gold standard for festival logistics in UP.