The city buses decked out in garlands as the service is launched in Puri on Wednesday. Picture by Sarat Patra

Puri, Sept. 5: Every 15 minutes, a new bus service will make the pilgrims’ progress much smoother in the temple town of Puri.

The town, which has on an average 50,000 visitors coming in every day, today got five city buses that will ferry passengers from Jagannath temple to Sri Lokanath temple via the Puri town bus stand. The buses that will ply this 12-km stretch have been provided under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

This is the first city bus service to be launched in the town. Official sources said four more would be added to the fleet shortly. A bus will arrive at 26 stoppages on the route every 15 minutes.

The bus service was inaugurated today at a programme attended by chairperson of Puri Municipality Shantilata Pradhan and district collector Naba Kumar Nayak.

The operator of the city bus service, Dream Team Sahara (DTS), will charge a minimum fare of Rs 5 fare for distances less than 3km and Rs 10 for the entire trip.

DTS chief operating officer Sudhanshu Jena said: “We are planning to reduce the waiting time for the buses from 15 minutes to 10 minutes.”

Local resident Dhiren Kumar Mishra said that though there were cycle rickshaws, autorickshaws and small buses plying between the Jagannath temple and the Puri bus stand, the town bus service would be of great help to tourists and local residents, as it would go to major points such as the Jagannath temple, the court, Sea Beach police station, Digabareni, Swargadwar, Baliapanda, Lokanath, Netaji Subash Square, Coco Palm, the railway station and Puri bus stand.

Puri resident Deepak Padhi, excited about the launch, said: “The state government should have introduced the service last year.”

However, the bus operator is not happy with the help extended by the district administration and the police to run the service. “We are yet to get the three origin and destination terminals at Narendrakona, Jatrika and Konark. Without these terminals, the buses are parked on an open ground where there is no drinking water or lights. The authorities should take measures as soon as possible so that the service runs smoothly,” said an official.

Puri Municipality chairperson Shantilata Pradhan said: “We are taking all possible steps to sort out the problems for the benefit of the pilgrims.”