Govt Buses Start Plying In 9 Green Zone Districts In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) on Thursday began plying 46 buses in nine green zone districts in the state.

The Commerce and Transport Department informed that the buses will run on 46 routes in Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Gajapati.

On Wednesday, Commerce and Transport Minister Padamanabha Behera had said that the OSRTC buses will ply with 50 per cent of the total sitting capacity in accordance with social distancing guidelines and the passengers have to pay double the fare.

On the other hand, the All Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association has refused to ply buses. “We cannot run our buses charging double the bus fare from the passengers considering their financial situation. As this will be an inhuman act, the Association has decided not to run any bus,” Association treasurer Barada Acharya said.

Also Read: Will Not Ply Buses With 50% Seating Capacity, Says Odisha Private Bus Owners Body