Islampur, Dec. 8: Services of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) have deteriorated in Islampur subdivision leaving the town cut-off from many important destinations in the region.

An acute shortage of buses, has forced the authorities to suspend services on nine routes. In the wake of NBSTC’s decline in the subdivision, private bus operators and owners of trekker services are raking in profits while the cash-strapped corporation watches helplessly.

On the other hand, NBSTC employees have been drawing their salaries from the loss making organisation without much work on their hands.

The corporation, however, does not seem to have any plan to recover lost ground.

“Repeated appeals to the authorities to take immediate action went in vain. Whenever we raised the issue we were told the situation was a result of the cash crunch NBSTC is facing,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity.

Out of 25 buses based in Islampur depot, 12 have been out of order for a long time. “Now those buses are irreparable. Some other buses also need immediate repair. The lack of funds has stopped this from happening,” said an insider.

Earlier two pairs of NBSTC buses used to ply between Islampur and Calcutta. Now only one pair is working the route.

These apart, important destinations like Nabadwip, Asansol, and Darbhanga remain cut off to the residents due to shortage of buses.

To add to passengers’ woes, the quota of seats from Islampur on NBSTC buses originating elsewhere, has also been suspended. Officials at the Isalmpur depot said they saw no valid reason for this.

Islampur NBSTC depot in-charge Sajal Chakraborty regretted that the “indifferent attitude”of the authorities was helping private players and the illegal transport business thrive at the cost of the corporation.

“Most of the trekkers and maxi taxies have no route permits. But their business is thriving because of the absence of government buses on major routes. The authorities also seem reluctant to take any steps against the illegal trade as they fear an adverse public reaction,” Chakraborty said.

A senior official of the Regional Transport Authority admitted that many vehicles, including trekkers and maxi taxies were plying illegally. He, however, said no action was being taken because of fear of public wrath.