Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Jan 31: Since STS has started issuing return bus tickets to public from various Islands of North and Middle Andaman, the importance of STS has doubled for public. But unfortunately because of unprofessional approach of a few staffs, posted in the ticketing counter, public are suffering heavily.
Public allege that the staffs inside the counter not only lack basic manners of dealing with public but are also always in great hurry to print ticket without even listening to requirements of public, which often leads to cancellation of tickets, for which again public has to pay.
Worst sufferers are those old people of North and Middle Andaman who are not aware about the buses and fares and reach the ticketing counter for help. Passengers claim that such people hardly get any help, until and unless someone from public comes forward for help.
Not only this often unwanted people could be seen standing inside the ticketing counter for chit chat, which not only disturbs the ticket issuing process but also causes delay to public.
“Staffs who are paid from the tax payers’ money usually do not help any person with proper information about ticket availability or other options or ticket availability in other buses, which is unacceptable,” said a ATR passenger, who asked for a 12.00 Noon return ticket from Middle Strait but was issued a 3.00 PM ticket, without any reason today. Sources said that due to negligence such mistakes often happens for which ultimately public has to suffer.
The Director of Transport has taken many commendable steps recently to improve service of STS but due to few such staffs, the STS Department is earning bad name. This is high time to post only public friendly people to STS ticketing counter and also to open a help desk for passengers who are old and are from remote villages.
The issue is serious and need to be strictly delath with by the concerned administrator.