Private operators oppose extension of Mo Bus services in Odisha, seek CM’s intervention

Bhubaneswar: The All Odisha Bus Owners’ Association has opposed the state government’s plan to launch Mo Bus services on new routes.

The association has written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking his intervention into the issue.

In its letter to the Chief Minster, the association claimed that the Transport Minister, during a meeting on October 26 this year, had assured it to maintain the status-quo with regard to the operation of Mo Buses in the state. It had been also decided in the meeting that the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department would form a committee to take any final decision regarding the extension of Mo Bus services in the state, said the association.

However, the H&UD department has recently announced to launch Mo Bus services on new routes from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Odisha capital here to Puri and Cuttack without any consultation with the committee. Similarly, the state government has planned to launch Mo Bus service in Keonjhar and Berhampur regions without any prior consultation, said the association.

The association claimed that the extension of Mo Bus services to new areas and plying of buses in rural areas under the LAccMI scheme will cause immense miseries for the private bus owners.

The association has urged the Chief Minister to intervene into the issue and take appropriate steps for the survival of private bus owners in the state.

The bus owners’ association had earlier written to the Transport department Principal Secretary opposing the extension of Mo Bus services beyond the urban areas in the state.

The association had raised objections to Mo Bus services from Cuttack to Salipur; Bhubaneswar to Niali, Puri, Satapada and Konark; Mahanadi Vihar to Puri, Rourkela to Rajgangpur, Biramitrapur and Bonai; Jatni to Puri and on a few other routes in the state.