Bhubaneswar: For the convenience of devotees, the Private Bus Owners’ Association has decided to ply 100 special buses during Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri this year.
As per the decision, taken at a meeting of the Association members with the officials of State Transport Authority in Odisha capital on Thursday, the buses will ply to carry passengers from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to Puri on 7 days during the Rath Yatra.
While the buses will pick up passengers from different stoppages in the twin cities, those will have a common halt at Talabania in Puri. It was also decided that information centres will be opened in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Puri so that the passengers can get information about the schedule and fares.
While the Rah Yatra is scheduled to be celebrated on July 1, the buses will be available on 3 consecutive days including the festival day and the days before and after it.
Similarly, the special buses will run on Bauda Yatra on July 9 and July 8, the day before it. The passengers can also avail the facility on the day of Suna Besha on July 10, and the day after it.
According to the Association, the special arrangement has been made as it is expected that a large number of devotees will turn up for the Rath Yatra which will be held with their participation after 2 years. The state government had banned the devotees from participating in the festival due to COVID pandemic.
