The Jorhat inter-state bus terminus. Telegraph picture

Jorhat, July 8: There is relief in sight for commuters who take a bus from the inter-state bus terminus (ISBT) to Jorhat town with the district administration proposing the introduction of a shuttle service to and from the ASTC bus stand in the heart of the town.

The administration took the decision following complaints that autorickshaws and private vehicles were charging exorbitant rates from the ISBT, on the western outskirts of the town, especially at night.

Many passengers travelling with luggage had harrowing experiences trying to get a conveyance with autorickshaws and private vehicles asking for as much as Rs 500 to travel a distance of about 4km at night.

D.C. Agarwal, a resident of Marwari Patty, said on one occasion he was stranded at the ISBT for over an hour. His bus from Guwahati reached around 3am and then he had to pay Rs 300 to the autorickshaw driver after much haggling to take him to Marwari Patty, about 5km from the ISBT.

“I paid Rs 300 as bus fare from Guwahati to Jorhat, a distance of 305km and then shelled out another Rs 300 to the autorickshaw to take me home from the bus terminus, a distance of 5km and that too after much bargaining,” he said.

Ranjan Phukan, another commuter, said he, too, had to pay an exorbitant fare to the auto driver for taking him from the ISBT to his house in Chandan Nagar, a distance of about 6km, as he had a large amount of luggage with him.

“These autos especially take advantage of people with luggage and demand a much higher rate,” Phukan said.

Jorhat deputy commissioner R.C. Jain has directed the district administration, district police and district transport office to do the needful in running light vehicles, such as mini-buses, as a shuttle service to the ISBT.

People said that the rate of autorickshaws and other vehicles playing between ISBT and Jorhat town should be regulated and displayed prominently.

The administration, however, ruled out the proposal of running a city bus service, as in Guwahati, saying it would not be viable to operate the buses day and night and would also lead to congestion as there were no traffic bays in the town.