Berhampur, Oct. 31: The development authority has selected a private party to operate the modern bus terminus at Haldiapadar through a bidding process. The terminus, which is 5km from the city centre, will become operational by December.

However, Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) secretary Dipti Mahapatra, refused to name the Bhubaneswar-based company as the authority is yet to sign a formal agreement with it.

Asked to specify the reason behind BDA not operating the terminus, she said: "The state government has decided in principle that the such projects should be operated by private parties and not government agencies because of manpower crunch.

"The new bus stand at Sambalpur is currently managed by a private party facilities such as in the five-acre complex "The city bus stand, which is no more in a state to accommodate buses can be utilised otherwise. We have not yet taken any final decision about it," she said.

The old bus stand near the Berhampur Stadium, which was operating in Berhampur since 1950 was closed in January 2012. All the buses were operating from the city bus stand since then.

"There was no problem for buses originating from the modern bus terminus at Haldiapadar towards Andhra Pradesh or Bhubaneswar on two different directions of the National Highway. But buses plying towards Aska, Bhanjanagar, Digapahandi and other places have to move through Andrapasara Road," she said.

She further said that as the modern bus terminus at Haldiapadar is situated on the National Highway, there are chances of frequent accidents and a flyover will be constructed that will connect the bus terminus to the highway.