The West Bengal government has launched a service to take visitors to popular pujas across the city on air-conditioned as well as non-AC buses.
The buses will run on Saptami (October 2) and Navami (October 4) and the passengers will be taken to some of the big-ticket pandals like Ekdalia Evergreen, Singhi Park, Badamtala Ashar Sangha, Mudiali, Shibmandir, Mohammad Ali Park, College Square and Bagbazar Sarbojonin.
Transport department officials said tickets could be booked online on www.wbtconline.in and from the transport department offices on RN Mukherjee Road and Ganesh Chandra Avenue in central Kolkata.
The AC Volvo buses will start the trips from Barasat and Esplanade.
A round trip from Barasat will cost Rs 1,850 per person. From Esplanade, a round trip will cost Rs 1,750.
The buses will leave at 9am and passengers will be offered tea, snacks and lunch.
The trips on non-AC buses, which, too, will run on Saptami and Navami, will cost Rs 400 and Rs 500, depending on the place of boarding.
The buses will originate from Howrah station, Tollygunge tram depot, Dunlop, Madhyamgram and Barasat Colony More at 9.15am and Barrackpore and Habra at 8.30am.
“This year, we want to offer the Puja Parikrama service to a larger number of people,” state transport minister Snehasis Chakraborty said.
The transport department has also drawn up a package for those who wish to visit some of the family pujas, like Sovabazar Rajbari, Rani Rashmoni’s house, Chhatubabu-Latubabu’s house and the Halders of Bagbazar.
“This service will be available on Saptami, Ashtami and Navami and the bus will leave from Esplanade at 8am,” an official said.
“The trips on AC Volvo buses will cost Rs 1,850 and the package include breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and tea.”
