Old bus-stand at Barracks in Berhampur shifted to decongest city

BERHAMPUR: The Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) bus stand in the heart of the city at Barracks was shifted to new bus stand. Earlier the OSRTC buses were using the old bus stand in the city. Administration and police had taken this decision of shifting of OSRTC bus stand to ease the traffic in the city. Initially the OSRTC authorities were not ready to accept the proposal with the plea that it would hamper their market due to unholy competition from private bus operators. But the OSRTC had to bow down to the directive of the administration. Administration has decided to use the old bus stand as city bus stand. This city bus stand would be used by the passenger vehicles plying between Berhampur, Gopalpur and Chatrapur. The Divisional Transport Manager (DTM) of OSRTC Amiya Kumar Mishra said they have accepted to abide by the order of the administration despite the fear that it may affect their passenger service and income. The OSRTC authorities had no other go but to accept the directive of the administration for shifting of bus stand as this order had the backing of a court order. The old bus stand area had been leased to the OSRTC around 50 years ago. The OSRTC was not ready to vacate it after the end of lease period due to which the legal tussle had started.

This decision to shift the bus stand was opposed by some organisations including some staff of the OSRTC. On Saturday Ganjam district Collector, Berhampur SP and Berhampur sub-collector visited the new bus stand to enquire about the state of amenities and to streamline operation of the OSRTC buses from the spot. They also held meeting with the private bus owners association regarding it. Six berths of the old bus stand have been provided for parking of OSRTC buses. A special booking of OSRTC has been opened up at new bus stand. At present 13 OSRTC buses start from Berhampur and 20 other long route buses of the corporation to different destinations in south Odisha travel via the Berhampur. From wee hours of Sunday these buses started reaching the new bus stand. passing through Gate Bazar, Tata Benz square and Kamapalli.

Source: The Hindu, OrissaDiary