City Bus Service to Start in Bhadrak, Balasore by August

BALASORE: The proposed city bus service in Balasore and Bhadrak towns, which is already delayed by over a year, will soon be a reality with the Balasore-Bhadrak Urban Transport Trust deciding to roll out the service by August 31.

The State Government had declared to start the bus service on May 6 last year but failure on the part of administrations of both the districts in providing land for bus terminal led to the delay.

However, the district administrations swung into action to extend necessary support after the towns were included in Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme. The bus service will be extended under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

According to sources, initially 18 buses would be provided to Balasore and 12 to Bhadrak. While land near Remuna Golai in Balasore town has been provided for the bus terminus, Bhadrak administration has selected land near Charampa for the terminal. Balasore Collector Sanatan Mallik said PWD authorities have been asked to complete construction work in time so that the bus services can be started by August 31.

“An Urban Transport Trust has been formed for management of the service. Collectors, SPs, Municipality chairpersons, chairmen of regional improvement trusts and other district level officials are members of the trust,” he said. Sources informed that though tenders were floated by both the district administrations for providing buses, none has responded so far. Mallik, however, said a meeting of the Road and Transport officials with the private bus and truck owners will be convened to sort out the issue on July 8.

Meanwhile, the need to prepare a road map for the bus service was felt considering the fact that the town bus service introduced by Balasore Municipality a few years back hardly caters to all parts of town.

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