FROM A CORRESPONDENT
HAFLONG, July 15: The Assam State Transport Corporation service at Haflong, the only direct means of communication to the State Capital for the people of Dima Hasao is gaining bad me due to its staffs like conductors who often allegedly misbehaved with the passengers while encouraging passengers to travel without proper tickets, alleged the conscious citizens of Haflong.
On July 12, the passengers of Guwahati – Haflong ASTC bus ( Bus No AS-20-1590) booked 18 seats, from gaon—6 , from Doboka –1 and from Lanka –3 whereas the seat capacity of the bus was 31 excluding cabin, but the on the conductor on duty misbehaved with the passengers from gaon saying that there were no seat.
Same was done to the passengers from Doboka and Lanka as they took the tickets from the ASTC counter. But the passengers who did not purchase ticket from the counter got good seats provided by the conductor. The passengers also alleged that the conductor was not cooperative with the passengers as it was found when the passengers asked him regarding the stoppage of the bus for lunch and any other facilities.
This attitude of the ASTC staff particularly of the conductor caused serious concern among the people since they are solely dependent on ASTC bus since as there was no rail communication from Haflong now.
People mostly since long have preferred ASTC bus services for its reliability, security and safety but of late the attitude of the ASTC staffs particularly who deal with the public is not at all encouraging and there the people are refusing to avail the services.
Earlier, there were at least ten services from Haflong but as the day passed by the number of services decreased to one, only due to such indifferent attitude of the ASTC people, locals alleged.