Bhubaneswar: The urban development authority, along with Bhubaneswar-Puri Transport Services Limited, has started drawing up a blueprint to fast-track the proposed second bus depot-cum-terminal at Patia.

A delegation of the development authority, led by vice-chairman Krishan Kumar, inspected the proposed site on Monday. The development body has taken possession of the land where a transport hub will come up after a final eviction drive last week.

The government is making plans to increase the number of buses to 300 before commencement of the men's hockey world cup to be held here in November. In order to make the operation smooth and efficient, the authorities are making efforts to make this second depot-cum-terminal operational by September.

The government wants to complement the existing Pokhariput depot with two more at Patia and Patrapada. "We have decided to increase the fleet to 300 by September from the present 100. We will need more depots to handle operations," said Kumar.

Sources said the new depot would accommodate 100 buses at a time. It will also have zones for workshops, washing, re-fuelling, administrative and parking. The workshop area will have an office, storage area, rooms for tools and yard, battery, unit overhaul, and air compressor, toilet and utilities, repair bays, storerooms for oil and tyre, painting and denting sections and circulation space.

"We have made basic plans," said a development authority official.

"Strengthening public transport services is necessary. The public transport sector is not in good shape, and we are forced to opt for private cab or auto-rickshaws, who often enjoy monopoly. There has to be efforts to complete these on time," said Patia resident Sreyas Acharya.