Dhenkanal: After speculations in different spheres since BJP came to power in Odisha, LAccMI buses have now been given a new look with changed colour. The colour of buses that operated under the much talked about Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI) has been changed from green to saffron in Dhenkanal.
Sources said apart from change in colour these buses have ‘Mukhyamantri Bus Seva’ written on the body instead of LAccMI scheme. These buses parked in Dhenkanal bus stand have been given a new look, though there has been no official announcement in this regard. It is still not clear as to who has issued instruction for change of colour and name of the bus.
Earlier, stickers with conch symbol had been removed from the buses after the BJP government took charge in the state and now the colour and name have been changed. However, senior transport officials are yet to make any statement in this regard. It is claimed that transport department employees are not engaged in the modification work. It is not clear as to who is undertaking the work and spending money for this.
Notably, Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena had stated last week that the LAccMI scheme would now be renamed as ‘Mukhyamantri Bus Seva’ and all necessary steps taken to ensure seamless public transport to the people.
He had also told media that the service with thorough restructuring would be implemented soon and no party symbol would be used in the scheme.
Affirming the government’s commitment to providing reliable bus service to the people, the Minister had said it has been decided not to use any party symbol and rename LAccMI scheme as ‘Mukhyamantri Bus Seva’ after thorough analysis of its functioning.
The Minister had further emphasised that buses will run from every block of the state on the occasion of the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in the pilgrim town of Puri.
The move to rename and restructure the LAccMi scheme comes amid allegations of poor function of the service, which sought to provide a seamless public transport network from panchayats to the state capital. The then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had launched the service on October 12, 2023 from tribal-dominated Malkangiri district. The bus service was subsequently launched in other districts of the state.