Editor,
I would like to draw the attention of the state government and the public to the deteriorating condition and exorbitant fares of the Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Services (APSTS) bus services, particularly in the twin capital region of Itanagar and Naharlagun.
There was a time when the APSTS bus service was the undisputed lifeline of Arunachal. In those days, passengers did not judge the transport by its luxury; reliability and basic functionality were enough. However, times have changed. Today’s commuters rightfully expect comfort, punctuality, and efficiency – qualities that the current APST services drastically fail to provide.
Presently, we can hardly rely on APSTS buses. Maintenance is extremely poor, meaning that even brand-new buses are reduced to a dilapidated condition within a single year. This points to a severe lack of technical maintenance and potentially unqualified technical staff. Furthermore, for a government-run service meant for public welfare, the fares are unjustifiably high and desperately need to be reduced.
The twin capital of Itanagar and
Naharlagun serves as the gateway to Arunachal. With the introduction of railway and airport connectivity, nearly 80% of tourists pass through the capital region. Transport is the first touch point of our state’s hospitality. Therefore, the APSTS buses connecting the airport and the railway station should be of standard quality, comfortable, efficient, and genuinely priced.
We need only look to our neighbouring state of Assam for a stark comparison. In Guwahati, the introduction of green, battery-operated buses means a commuter can catch a ride every five minutes, seamlessly connecting the entire city. Why can’t the capital of Arunachal provide a similarly reliable public transport system?
The APSTS online ticketing system feels like it’s moving backward. When you try to download the official app, the Play Store says it was “made for an older version of Android.” Are passengers expected to dig up five-year-old smartphones just to book a bus ticket?
Furthermore, we don’t get OTP/SMS for website login, SMS receipt of confirmation for tickets booked at the counter and still cannot book Volvo buses to major hubs like Guwahati and Shillong online.
Consider the daily morning scenario at the Naharlagun railway station when the Donyi Polo Express arrives. Thousands of passengers disembark, yet they are greeted by only two APSTS buses – one for Naharlagun and one for Itanagar. The condition of these buses often looks as though they were rejected from service elsewhere and are simply making do here. To make matters worse, the fare from the Naharlagun railway station to Ganga, Itanagar – a distance of just 14 kilometres – is Rs 60. In Assam, a similar distance would cost a maximum of Rs 20 to Rs 30.
Therefore, I earnestly request the transport minister of Arunachal and the general manager of the APSTS to urgently implement the following improvements in the twin capital region:
Increased frequency and fleet: Deploy a fleet of 10 APSTS buses running every 30 minutes from Chimpu to Banderdewa, operating from 5 am to 9 pm daily. This would highly benefit office-goers and students across Itanagar and Naharlagun.
Rationalised fares: Revise the fare structure to make it affordable: Rs 50 for the full route from Chimpu to Banderdewa, and Rs 20 for intermediate journeys like Itanagar to Naharlagun or Naharlagun to Banderdewa.
Dedicated transit hub buses: Introduce new, comfortable buses specifically for airport and railway passengers. There should be a minimum of three buses for Itanagar and two for Naharlagun, with nominal fares (Rs 20/30 for Itanagar and Rs 10/15 for Naharlagun).
Professionalism and cleanliness: Detail efficient, professional staff on airport and railway routes who can speak fluent Hindi and English politely. Furthermore, strict anti-littering rules must be monitored. Anyone found throwing wrappers, leaving leftover food, or spitting gutkha inside a bus should face heavy fines.
The APSTS urgently needs major digital upgrade. (a) Update the mobile app to support modern Android devices; (b) Overhaul the ticketing website for a smoother experience; (c) Enable online reservations for all Volvo and premium buses.
It is high time we upgraded our public transport to reflect the growing stature of our capital. I hope the authorities concerned will take prompt and positive action on these suggestions.
Mr Hope