Tourist buses such as these will be introduced in every district

Jamshedpur, Oct. 12: The overwhelming response to the recently-launched bus service between the steel city and Daltonganj has prompted the Jharkhand State Tourism Development Corporation (JSTDC) to plan on luxury bus services connecting various tourist destinations across the state.

Sources in the tourism department said JSTDC officials at a recent meeting decided to introduce a 35-seater long distance luxury bus service linking Dhanbad, Dumka and Godda to Ranchi. The corporation will hire buses for the purpose.

Tourism director Sanoj K. Jha said: “We are negotiating the terms with three private agencies for a tourist bus service from Dhanbad, Godda and Dumka like the one introduced between Daltonganj and the steel city in September.”

According to Jha, the two buses plying between Jamshedpur and Daltonganj have become popular due to reasonable fare and comfortable seats. Tourists travelling on this route have to pay Rs 140 while private bus operators charge Rs 160 for the same distance.

The tourism director said departmental sanction would soon be granted for opening up ticket booking centres in Dhanbad, Godda and Dumka.

“We have chosen these three places as they comes under a tourist circuit. Tourists from neighbouring states come to these places. The bus service would be a good revenue source,” said Jha.

He said, tourists had been demanding for another bus from Jamshedpur to Daltonganj. “We have placed the proposal before the tourism minister and hope to get her approval soon,” he said.

A recent survey by the tourism department revealed that one of the problems faced by tourists is conveyance.

They have to either depend on private long distance buses or trains. Keeping this in view, the JSTDC came up with the plan of introducing buses in various tourist circuits, tourism department officials said.