Durga Puja 2020 will witness the revival of the iconic double-decker buses in Kolkata. At one time, these huge buses used to rule the streets of the city of joy. The old buses were cherry-red in colour, and along with the trams and yellow taxis, was an integral part of the Kolkata streets. The British had introduced these buses in the city as early as 1926. And the last double-decker bus hit the roads of Kolkata in 2005. Now the government is bringing back the buses, firstly for pandal hopping, and secondly to boost tourism. Read on to know the details.
Open-Roof Double Decker Buses Introduced In Kolkata For Pandal Hopping
Come Durga Puja 2020, Kolkata will welcome state-of-the-art double-decker buses which will be painted in blue and white. The buses will have advanced facilities like CCTVs, panic buttons, destination boards and automated doors. Unlike the old cherry-red buses which had two doors, these open-roof blue-white buses will have one door. There will be a total of 51 seats, of which 16 will be in the upper deck.
Also, the buses will be BS-IV compliant. As per the Hindustan Times report, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will launch two of these buses initially. The two buses will be first used to allow pandal hopping, and later they will be implemented to boost the city’s tourism too.
According to a transport department official, these buses are not for commercial purposes. Three pandals in South Kolkata are also offering unique drive-in darshan this Durga Puja.
Also Read: West Bengal Issues Durga Puja Guidelines; Open Pandals, Masks Mandatory
Other Recent Developments In West Bengal Transport Sector: Tram-Library, Cruise And More
There have been many recent developments in the transport sector of West Bengal. The first tram-library has come up in Kolkata that moves daily between Shyambazar and Esplanade, passing through the historic streets of Hatibagan, Hedua and College Street. A cruise service has started on the Hoogly river at ₹39 per person. The construction of the Howrah-Sealdah tunnel of Kolkata’s East-West Metro is also complete.
Also Read: 10 Things To Do In Kolkata During Durga Puja Under ₹200
Amid the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic, these pieces of news will probably cheer up the spirits of Kolkatans before Durga Puja. Meanwhile, here are 3 steps to get that perfect Durga Puja look: