NBSTC to launch 6 sleeper Volvo buses for north Bengal

In a bid to facilitate people visiting north Bengal, North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) will introduce a fleet of six sleeper Volvo buses this week.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will launch the buses virtually this week.

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The state government has purchased six Volvo Sleeper Buses at Rs 11 crore.

North Bengal over the years has become an important centre for trade and commerce. It has also come up as a centre of tourism.

The people visiting the area often fail to get a railway ticket and air fares are very high during the peak holiday season. Several private bus operators have launched sleeper buses connecting north Bengal with Kolkata. Instead of buying railway or air tickets many people are travelling in sleeper coaches.

The coaches are spacious and two people can sleep at a time. There are mobile charging facilities and water bottle holders. Blankets are supplied to the passengers, on request.

A senior official of the state Transport department said this is for the first time that Volvo sleeper buses have been introduced. The buses will leave the Esplanade bus depot in the evening reaching Siliguri early in the morning. The bus will stop at Krishnagar to allow the passengers to have dinner. With improved suspension and smooth national highways, the comfort of the passengers is very high. The buses are driven by expert drivers.

“With north Bengal coming up as a major business and tourism hub, more and more people are now travelling by buses. The buses are clean and booking a seat is less tedious,” said an official.

During the Left Front regime, Rocket buses were introduced connecting north and south Bengal.