Berhampur: The modern bus terminus at Haldiapadar, 5km from here on the outskirts, will be operational from next month, said Berhampur Development Authority secretary Dipti Mahapatra.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had inaugurated the bus terminus on February 2 last year. "After much delay, we hope that it will start operating in December," said Mahapatra.

The delay is primarily attributed to construction of a safe entry and exit point along with a traffic post on the NH-6. "The construction was delayed as the permission of the National Highways Authority of India was awaited. These factors are vital for safety purposes. The works department carried out the construction. The city bus stand will be shifted completely to the Haldiapadar bus terminus on the New Year's Day", she said.

The Old Bus Stand inside the city near the stadium, which had been operating since 1950, was completely closed on December 31, 2011. Since then, all buses were operating from the City Bus Stand (known as the New Bus Stand) managed by the Berhampur Development Authority. In 2013, the Ganjam district administration earmarked land in Haldiapadar and started construction in July 2014.

The new facility is equipped with a rest shed for drivers, garage, rest rooms for passengers, taxi stand, parking facilities for buses, community toilets, canteen and ticket counters. The terminus, was built by the urban development department at a cost of Rs 12.87 crore. As many as 350 private ordinary buses, 50 private express buses and 28 OSRTC buses will use this terminus, sources said.

"The Haldiapadar bus stand will ease traffic congestion inside the city. Long-route buses will not be allowed to enter the city. Passengers can take the city or town buses to reach their destinations in Berhampur," said chairman of Berhampur Development Authority Subash Maharana.