THE Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) is mulling the idea of creating various pick-up centres for long-distance passengers in the city. This system is expected to be in place after GSRTC receives new buses in November.
Surat, which is known for diamond and textile business, attracts many people from across the State and also from other states to earn their livelihood. Taking advantage of the poor services of the GSRTC, many private players have set up their travel business in the city.
Leaders of State Karmachari Transport Corporation Union met GSRTC Managing Director G R Aloria and General Manager G B Vohra and proposed this idea to make the corporation a profitable one.
GSRTC Surat Divivision Controller A K Parmar said, "Our buses will ply in different areas in the city to cover the pick-up centres for long-distance passengers. Our intention is to collect passengers from their own areas so that they don't face any difficulty. The State government will allot us 125 new CNG buses with good facilities like music systems within two months. We conducted meetings with staffers and union leaders and came to the conclusion to pick up long-journey passengers from their doorsteps. The private players are robbing the passengers by taking handsome amount from them."
The GSRTC staff with union leaders will visit different areas in the city and will directly communicate with people and listen to their complaints about the GSRTC. They will also request people to use the ST services to reach their destinations.
Assistant Traffic Superintendent V B Mali said, "We will select 60 agents from different areas in the city and they will book the tickets for different long-distance routes for North, Central and South Gujarat, and for Maharashtra and Rajasthan. With this, the passengers will not to stand in queues to get their ticket reserved at the Central Bus stand near Surat railway station. They can book the tickets from the agents."