Bhubaneswar: It’s been two months since the much-awaited ‘Mo Bus’ service was rolled out in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Odisha Bytes decided to get on-board and bring you a detailed analysis on whether the service is affordable or not.
Passenger 1 (U S Misra): These buses are very comfortable, almost vibration-free. It is more spacious, considering the 2×2 seating unlike 3×2 in other buses. Even the glasses don’t vibrate as is a case in local buses. Braking and acceleration are smoother and jerk-free. Getting in and out is comfortable because of the low-height steps. Commuting from High Court Road (Cuttack) to Master Canteen (Bhubaneswar) in non-AC Mo Bus costs me Rs 34 and Rs 58 in the AC one. It is much cheaper and more relaxing than changing two autos, specially for senior citizens like me. Lady conductor was very polite. The buses are neat and clean, hope they are maintained that way.
Passenger 2 (Sitanshu): The facilities are excellent but the cost is on the higher side. From Link Road to Phulnakhara, Rs 32 (AC) seems very high. The app is a life-saver. I can track and see when the bus will arrive and accordingly leave my home or office.
Passenger 3 (Sushanta Nayak): We are travelling from Badambadi to HiTech Medical, for that distance other buses charge Rs 25 but this AC bus costs Rs 45. Non AC (Mo Bus) is definitely affordable.
We found out that the cost of travelling in a shared autorickshaw from High Court Road to Badambadi in Cuttack is Rs 15. From Vanivihar to Master Canteen in Bhubaneswar, the charges are the same. Regular buses between the twin cities charge Rs 25 a person. From High Court Square in Cuttack to Master Canteen in Bhubaneswar, one has to shell out Rs (15 + 25 + 15) = Rs 55. While the same costs Rs 34 in a non-AC Mo Bus, which makes the new service cheaper by Rs 21! The same route in an air-conditioned Mo Bus costs Rs 58.
The route taken by Sitanshu from Link Road to Nakhara costs Rs 15 in a non-AC Mo Bus, at par if not cheaper than regular buses.
The authorities validate our findings. “Tickets slab are actually low. The first 2 km costs just Rs 4, which is much lower than any other transport service. We started with 1,700 riders a day, now we average around 64,000 a day. Public has definitely accepted our service,” said Dipti Mohapatra, Personnel & Administration, Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) department.
Comparing high-quality AC buses with local buses was unfair, she added.
Regular commuters can avail the ICICI Odyssey prepaid pass system which will help them save around 50 per cent of the cost. Commuters can use the Mo Bus app to see where the bus is in real time and plan their journeys accordingly instead of waiting at a bus stop. They can also book tickets on the app.
The buses also have free on-board WiFi.
Currently, Mo Bus is running on 14 routes, 3 of which are in Cuttack. “We are waiting for approval from the Puri Urban Transport Area to start services there,” added Mohapatra.
Mohapatra also mentioned that the Mo Bus app was updated 2 days back, and ticket booking issues have been ironed out.
Have you taken a ride in Mo Bus yet? If yes, do let us know if you found it affordable, comfortable and are you going to replace your existing transportation option with this service.
