Siliguri, 07th July: Panchayat election is scheduled for the 8th of July (Saturday) in the state, following which, a large number of voters from various parts of the state flocked to the Siliguri Junction bus stand to return. However, there was a shortage of buses. In this regard, the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) bus drivers stated that the Election Commission had taken numerous buses for election duty resulting in a shortage. Notably, in view of the election, the number of passengers has increased considerably on Friday.
Reportedly, due to a shortage of buses, on Friday, the NBSTC bus stand in Siliguri was crowded with passengers bound for Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Falakata, Mathabhanga, Jalpaiguri, and Raiganj. Due to buses being run today with an extra number of passengers, there were hardly any spaces left to step on in the buses, adding to the miseries of the passengers.
When the passengers were questioned in this regard, they stated that tomorrow was the date for the Panchayat election yet they were unable to board the buses. They added that they were in doubt regarding the possibility to cast their vote following the shortage of buses. A lady passenger stated she stood in the queue at the ticket counter since morning, after which, she got the ticket in the afternoon. Today, hundreds of passengers were stranded at the NBSTC bus stand in Siliguri.