Govt plans to improve city bus services in Odisha capital

Bhubaneswar: In view of population growth by 2030, Odisha government is planning to improve public transportation system in the city with introduction of more city buses in the upcoming days.

A master plan will be prepared to operate 1,200 city buses by 2025 in all the streets and squares.

The move came at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi yesterday.

As per the decision, the public transport system in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri will get makeover. A master plan will be prepared availing the city buses in each street, locations in these towns.

Bhubaneswar-Puri Transport Services (BPTS) will be assigned to make change in Bhubaneswar-Puri-Cuttack transport system. The IDCO, Revenue Department and district administration will provide necessary land to BPTS for proper functioning of the city bus services in each area. There will be bus depot and bus stands in junction area.

Sources said that General Administration (GA) department will provide 5 acre each in Gadakan, Ghatikia, Patia, Patrapada, Bhagawanpur, Pandra and Phulnakahra for construction of bus depot. As the land in Patia is not adquate for the bus depot, the GA department has been asked to allot additional 2 acre more in Patrapada and Bhagawanpur.

Similarly, IDCO will provide 5 acre in Infocity, Info Valley, Ramdaspur and Bhagawanpur area. The Khordha, Puri and Cuttack administrations have been asked to provide 5 acre each in their localities. The land will be handed over to the Urban Development department for the project.

Sources said that the decision has been made to make world class public transport system in Bhubaneswar. Ahead of Hockey World Cup, the government is planning to operate 300 city buses in the city by November 2018 for which there will be a special bus corridor in IDCO area.