City sightseeing in Kolkata gets an uplift with the introduction of two open-roof double-decker buses. This year Durga Puja will witness the revival of the iconic double-decker buses in Kolkata. Back in the early 90s these huge buses used to rule the streets of the city of joy. It was in 1926 when Kolkata had first witnessed the emergence of the iconic double-decker buses that gradually phased out.
The cherry-red colour double-decker buses along with the trams used to be an integral part of the Kolkata streets. The last double-decker bus hit the roads of Kolkata in 2005. Now the two open-roof double-decker buses are all set to make a comeback during Durga Puja 2020 that will not only be useful in pandal hopping but also helps in boosting tourism.
The two buses will serve as an amazing means for people enthusiastic about puja parikrama. The revamped open roof buses are painted in blue and white. The new buses have amazing features such as 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 would be a total of 51 seats in all of which 16 will be in the upper deck.
Double-decker bus route
According to the transport department official, these buses are not for commercial purposes. Initially the buses are likely to be used for special city tours during the upcoming Durga Puja before being introduced as a regular facility for tourists. Once the Durga Puja is over these buses will be used for adding charm to the city's tourism. The hop-on-hop-off bus service will pass the heritage buildings like Writers’ Building, GPO, Town Hall and Victoria Memorial. The route and stops are likely to be extended depending on demand. Later the double-decker buses will ply across the streets for active shoppers and travellers.
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 Hooghly river at Rs. 39 per person. Additionally metro services in Kolkata get upgraded after the construction of the first underground metro station in 25 years.
Amid the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic these pieces of news will probably cheer up the spirits of Kolkatans before Durga Puja. Stay tuned to the Trainman blog to know the latest updates on railways and COVID-19 virus. For a quick ticket booking experience book your train tickets through Trainman app. Download Trainman App and check PNR Status of the ticket booked, Seat Availability, Train Inquiry and a lot more exciting features.
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