Women passengers to get 50% concession in fare in Jagannath Express buses in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: In its effort to woo women voters ahead of the impending Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha, the state government today launched the Jagannath Express bus service with 50 per cent reduction in fare for female passengers.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the bus service under Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI) in the state.

Under the scheme, the state government will provide bus service from the district headquarters towns to Puri via the capital city.

The state government will run at least 80 super premium buses from the headquarters of all 30 districts in Odisha to Puri via the state capital, said the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in a statement today.

In the initial phase, the Chief Minister launched the bus service for 12 districts in the state. The districts are: Balangir, Bargarh, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Koraput, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Sundargarh, added the CMO.

“The people from across the state can reach Puri conveniently thorough the Jagannath Express bus service. The fare in Jagannath Express buses to be slashed by 50 per cent for women passengers,” said the Chief Minister while launching the scheme.

Participating in the event, Commerce and Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu said the state government always gives priority to the women in all welfare schemes. “The common people will be hugely benefitted by the Jagannath Express bus service. Now, they can reach the state capital and the Holy Town of Puri from their respective district headquarters towns without much difficulties,” she added.

Senior officials of the state government including Development Commissioner Anu Garg and Commerce and Transport department Principal Secretary Usha Padhee were present on the occasion.