BERHAMPUR: BDA and Local Authorities
of Berhampur are planning to introduce a city bus service from the city to
Gopalpur and Chhatrapur under public-private-partnership mode. “Though mini
buses ply on both the Berhampur-Gopalpur and Berhampur-Chhatrapur routes, we
propose to introduce a city bus service to these two places because of public
demand,” said secretary of the Berhampur Development Authority Saran Kumar
Jena. “We have engaged a consulting agency to make a detailed survey on the
prospects and the possibilities of plying city buses on these two routes. The
survey will take various factors, such as population, number of commuters
travelling between these places and the number of autorickshaws and other
vehicles in the area, into consideration. The survey, which was launched by the
consulting agency two months ago, is in its final stages now,” Jena said. The
consulting agency is expected to submit its preliminary report on May 14. The
proposal will then be discussed with all stakeholders of the town, including
local legislators, sub-collector, representatives of the Berhampur Municipal
Corporation and others. District collector Ganjam Kishan Kumar has convened a
meeting on May 10 for preliminary discussions on the proposed city bus service
and various other development initiatives. “The mini buses, which are plying on
these two routes at present, are insufficient. Though the capacity of a mini
bus is 20, most of these vehicles ply with about 35 passengers. Introduction of
city buses in these two routes will be of immense benefit to the commuters,”
said Sudhir Das, who travels to Gopalpur from Berhampur everyday. However,
Nagen Kumar Padhi, vice-president of the Berhampur Trekkers’ and Taxi Owners’
Association, is worried over the proposal to introduce the bus service. “It
will affect our interests. We should be consulted on the matter,” he said.
Source: The Telegraph
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