Autos to hit newer areas in Berhampur soon

BERHAMPUR: The residents of Berhampur will soon get to enjoy autorickshaw services that will be introduced in select routes across the city. The Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) has conducted a survey and identified eight routes for the plying of autorickshaws. “The BDA is very much interested to implement the scheme. Though no specific date has been finalised to launch the scheme, we are planning to convene a meeting with the office bearers of the autorickshaw drivers/owners association soon,” said BDA secretary Sangram Sekhar Panda.“The BDA would provide parking slots for these autorickshaws at New Bus Stand, Old Bus Stand and other important places. No unlicensed autorickshaws would be allowed,” said Panda. The routes identified for the auto service are Railway Station to New Bus Stand via Kamapalli, Aska Road First Gate to New Bus Stand via Gate Bazar, Railway Station to New Mango Market via Bijipur Tank Road-Gandhi Nagar-Sub Registrar Office-Prem Nagar and Andhapasara Road, Railway Station to Sub Registrar Office via Khaspa Sahi and Haradakhandi, Aska Road First Gate to Courtpeta Junction via Big Bazar-Sana Bazar-Corporation Road-Gate Bazar Junction-City Hospital Road-Utkal Ashram Road-Tata Benz Square-Kamapalli and Courtpeta, Amabapua to New Bus Stand via Courtpeta, Luchapada to Haladiapadar via Gate Bazar Junction-City Hospital Road-Bijipur Tank Road-Gosaninuagaon and Haldiapadar, Courtpeta Junction to Engineering School Square via Kamapalli-Railway Over Bridge-Jail Road-Lanjipalli main road-Industrial Estate and Engineering School Square, according to BDA sources. At present, about 400 autorickshaws are plying in the city out of which 100 autos will be a part of the regulated auto service plan. These autos would be painted in a different colour to have a distinct look. They would run from 5.30am to 1.30 pm and again 2pm to 10pm, BDA sources said. The minimum fare would be Rs 5 and the maximum Rs 15. The name of the routes and the numbers of the autorickshaws would be displayed in hoardings at different places along the eight routes. The auto service in the city at present is not organised. The operators of autorickshaws that run on petrol have organised themselves and formed Berhampur Auto Tempo Chalaka Sangha (BATCS). They park at old bus stand, near the new bus stand and near the railway station.

Source: The Telegraph