CHHAPRA: The roads in
Chhapra
town and connecting Siwan, Sonepur, Mashrakh and Balia in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh witness frequent traffic snarls these days. Motorists blame it on the suspension of around a dozen passenger trains from
Chhapra Junction
due to
Covid-19
.
“The problem has aggravated owing to recent guidelines of the state government allowing only 50% passengers in buses,” said Sunil, who daily commutes to Siwan for official work.
Binay Kumar, station manager at Chhapra Junction, said about a dozen local trains running from Chhapra Junction to Siwan, Sonepur, Marhoura-Mashrakh and Ballia have been suspended due to Covid-19. “Around 25,000 people travelled from Chhapra on these routes daily,” he said.
“Only express trains are running through Chhapra and passengers have to take reservation for sleeper or AC berths at least one day before the date of journey,” said Thakur Sangram Singh, who travels from Sonepur to Chhapra.
Sudhanshu Sharma, general secretary of Saran district petroleum dealers association, said the sales of petrol doubled in November. There are about 110 petrol outlets in the district.
The problem has also led to surge in sales of two and four-wheelers. “The district transport office has been receiving applications for the registration of 80-85 new vehicles every day,” said Saran district transport officer Madhav Kumar.
He said the ensuing marriage season has also been another reason for the increase in sales of vehicles.
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