Balasore, July 6: Bus service between Balasore and Bhadrak and their neighbouring areas is likely to begin by the end of next month. A meeting between officials of the two districts had been held here on July 3 to discuss the operational requirements.

The meeting decided to commence the service by the end of August. It also decided that 32 buses would ply to Nilgiri, Soro and Basudevpur apart from Balasore and Bhadrak towns. The service is part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

Regional transport officer Amresh Patra said: "By the end of this month, we expect to receive 32 buses under the mission scheme of the Union urban development department."

He added that during the meeting, the officials had discussed modalities of the operation and parking spaces. "We are in touch with the agencies concerned to execute the project," he said.

Balasore Municipality executive officer Subash Chandra Jena said: "A discussion was held on the plying of town buses in Balasore and Bhadrak by the urban development department." He said the central government would bear the project, but it would be executed in public private partnership mode.

There has been a demand for a city bus service from various quarters in Balasore and Bhadrak towns, because neither has enough buses or a proper share taxi facility. "The town desperately needs a city bus service," said Balasore resident Dibakar Rout, adding that the buses should run till Remuna Gopinath temple, Nilgiri, Panchalingeswar and Chandipur among other places.

Balasore Municipality chairman Alok Sahu said: "Parking space for the buses has been earmarked at a site in Remuna, Ganeswarpur."