AC buses to various parts of Odisha ply from today

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to provide improved road transport service, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today launched the  Rajdhani Express Bus service ahead of summer.

He flagged off 23 new OSRTC AC buses that will ply on various routes from the State capital.

With the launching of the bus service, the passengers can have a comfortable journey with advanced facilities and features in the AC buses during the upcoming summer to the places included Phulbani, Rourkela, Bhawanipatna, Bhanjanagar, Rajgangpur via Sundergarh, Raj Khariar via Balangir, Gorumahisani via Karanjia and Burla via Sambalpur from Bhubaneswar.

Besides, four new Volvo buses were introduced in the service during the programme by Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC).

Total 27 buses have been purchased at expenses of Rs 16 crore for the transport service. The buses feature free WiFi, mobile charging, CCTV camera and vehicle tracking system as well as drinking water facility.

The tickets can be booked online for the journey on the buses.

Currently, total 429 buses from the OSRTC are plying in all 30 districts. Besides, another 43 buses are in the service to various cities of neighbouring States — Andhra, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh — from Odisha.

Meanwhile, the OSRTC will build five new bus stands in Jeypore, Balangir, Angul, Bamara and Odagaon. Besides, 25 existing bus stands will be renovated and 50 bus stand projects on the cards in blocks.