PASSENGERS SUFFER

Sambalpur, July 17: Two years after the city bus service was launched, it is yet to have designated stands in the city.

Though there was a proposal to develop 42 bus stops in Sambalpur, Burla and Hirakud to provide hassle free journey to the commuters, there has not been any progress in this regard.

The service began here with only six buses in 2014 and at present, 30 buses are running on 12 routes.

The service has received good response from the commuters, but lack of facilities has remained a cause for immense concern.

The chief executive officer of Paschim Odisha Paribahan Company, which had partnered with the government to run and manage the city bus here, Bipin Bhatia, admitted that passengers were suffering because of the absence of basic amenities.

"We don't know where the buses will stop and lift the passengers. We often face difficulty because of this," said Ranjit Pradhan, a commuter.

The city bus staff members are also facing problems in the absence of bus stops.

"We are forced to stop vehicles arbitrarily. This causes traffic congestion, but we are helpless," said a conductor of a city bus on condition of anonymity.

In the absence of designated stands, city buses at present originate from government bus stand here, which is owned by Odisha State Road and Transport Corporation. Getting off a bus or boarding one from the stand here is no mean feat.

There is no public toilet or drinking water facility or a proper shed for the commuters. The passengers are forced to take shelter during rain or severe heat in nearby shops.

Contacted, the chief executive officer of Western Odisha Urban Transport Services Limited, which is the apex body of city bus service, Bimalendu Rai said: "The government terminal belongs to the Odisha State Road and Transport Corporation. We have already written to them seeking their permission to develop amenities for the passengers there. Similarly, we have also asked the tehsildar to identify sites for development of bus stops in the city."