Cuttack, Jan. 8: The imposition of the model code of conduct ahead of rural polls in February will delay the construction of 52 bus shelters that the civic body had planned to build for its city bus service.

The corporation had planned to come up with the shelters across the city on a build-operate-transfer basis through a five-year contract with a private operator.

"We had planned to award the contract to a private operator before the first fortnight of January. But now, it will be delayed because the model code of conduct is in force," municipal commissioner Gyana Das told The Telegraph .

The shelters planned will have sitting arrangements for people, provision for kiosks and display screens.

The private operator would be expected to complete the shelters within two months from the date the contract is awarded.

They will build, operate and maintain the shelters for five years and then transfer it to the corporation. They would also be responsible for its maintenance, bear the overall cost and foot the monthly electric bills.

The civic body invited tenders for the 52 shelters nearly a year ago. The tender was finalised in February, but the contract had since not been awarded.

Das said: "The contract could not be awarded earlier as the stoppages had not been identified because of a delay in finalising the city bus routes."

"Now that we finalised the routes and the service has become operational, we will award the contract only after the model code of conduct expires on February 21," he added.

The project aims to provide shelters for commuters "as part of service delivery that is qualitative, reliable and sustainable".

"Under the build-operate-transfer project terms, the operator will hold sole and exclusive advertisement rights on the shelters for the duration of its five-year contract. But, it will pay annual advertisement tax/licence fees to the corporation according to the rate determined by the municipal council," said standing committee for license and appeal head Bikash Ranjan Behera.

Markatnagar resident Saumendra Mishra said: "Bus shelters are a civic need that has remained unattended in the city. The shelters planned by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation will address the need to a large extent."

Earlier in 2011, the corporation had set up with shelters on a similar basis at 11 locations.