SAMBALPUR: Air-conditioned city buses are likely to run on Bargarh-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda route by the end of May.
The Paschim Odisha Paribahan Company (POPCO) has partnered with the Western Odisha Urban Transport Service Limited (WOUTSL) to start the AC bus service on PPP mode.
CEO of POPCO Bipin Bhatia said four Red Line AC buses will ply on 100-km Bargarh-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda route in the first phase and four more buses will be introduced at a later stage after reviewing the response of passengers.
Sources said WOUTSL Board headed by former RDC (North) Dr Pramod Meherda had already approved the proposal to run four Red Line AC buses in the first phase. Housing and Urban Development Department has initiated the process to procure the buses. AC buses on the route will make the journey of passengers more comfortable particularly during summer season, Bhatia said.
The AC bus service will cover three major urban centres of Western Odisha including Bargarh, Sambalpur and Jharsuguda besides Rengali which is a major industrial hub of Sambalpur district.
Moreover, four city buses will run on the Sambalpur-Laida-Kuchinda route soon and the service will connect Sambalpur City with Kuchinda NAC. CEO of POPCO informed that they have already availed the permission for plying two city buses on the route.