Editorial
Eid-eve homebound ordeals
Issue formidable but solvable
All hell breaks loose for home-bound commuters and their carriers during Eid festivals. Whereas with the passage of time we should have tackled the rush for transportation better and efficiently we have only managed to let the situation aggravate. The hardship is difficult for the travelers to endure, for the nation in general to watch and transport operators to cope with.
The two Eid seasons are extremely vital for the travelers as they are for the transport operators, these being big earning seasons for them. For the hours they have to wait between ferry ghats or during other rush-induced tailbacks, they have to incur economic loss, including fuel costs. Consequently, the transporters charge the passengers more because of higher running costs including toll charges, not excluding extortion, thriving on tailbacks. The passengers suffer even more.
The government seems to think that passengers' ordeal and the transporters' incapacity are their problems and not the government's. But it's a management issue. It entails taking stock of numbers of seats and amounts of spaces in the trains, buses, launches and domestic air liners, relating these to projected incremental requirements and filling in the gaps either through addition to the fleets or running them on repeat schedules as far as practicable.
The rushes could be lessened by staggered outbound and inbound journeys. In essence, the handling of the traffic load would have to be planned for and systematic with provision for contingency.
Whatever the government does in tandem with all manner of transport operators, in its calculations, projections, arrangements the people must be constantly posted with the developments and the facilities on offer. The people must have the choice for informed decision.
Eid is an extremely valuable occasion for the rural-urban family connections. It should not be such a stressful affair. With earnest efforts of all concerned we should be able to come on top the problem.
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