Chief minister Naveen Patnaik launches buses under Biju Gaon Gadi Yojana in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee
Bhubaneswar, Feb. 24: The state government today launched a fleet of buses to provide better transport facilities to the people in 15 Maoist affected areas.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik flagged off 32 buses at an event held on the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation premises near AG Square in the city. These 40-seater buses will ply in the Maoist-affected areas under the Biju Gaon Gadi Yojana.
A corporation official said there were poor transport and communication facilities in the Maoist-affected areas. Last year, the state government had decided to start the scheme at a cost of Rs 21 crore.
According to this scheme, as many as 100 buses would be purchased in phases and commissioned to ply on 71 routes identified in these areas.
A committee, formed by the home secretary, transport secretary, joint secretary of the home department and other officials had identified these routes.
Before the general election last year, Naveen had flagged off 25 such buses at Phulbani as a part of the first phase. At present, the buses are plying in Kandhamal, Jeypore and Malkangiri.
Buses ready to roll out at a Bhubaneswar depot
'The buses, flagged off today, are part of the second phase of the Biju Gaon Gadi Yojana. Under this phase, parts of Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Koraput, Ganjam and Kandhamal will be covered,' said commerce and transport minister Ramesh Majhi.
Another corporation official said the buses that had been commissioned in the first phase were proved to be an excellent service to the local people. These vehicles are plying mostly in the remote areas that earlier had no transport facility.
'We hope that the local people will welcome the new fleet of buses that will provide better facilities to the residents staying in the rural areas,' said general manager (administration) of the corporation Saroj Patel.
Patel said the remaining buses under the scheme would be purchased in the coming financial year and immediately put into service, so that people could enjoy the benefits of the programme.
Official sources said that out of over the 400 buses operated by the corporation, more than 200 are plying through the Maoist-affected areas. Besides, almost all the vehicles have been touching the urban areas, including the important towns. The government started this scheme to provide transport facilities to the rural areas of the Maoist-affected districts.
'With the addition of more buses, the frequency of the service will increase in these areas. People will be greatly benefited,' said another corporation official.
