Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced fare structure for the buses to run under Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI).
The Commerce and Transport department, in an order issued on Thursday, directed the State Transport Authority and regional transport authorities to strictly follow the fare schedule released by it.
As per the schedule, the non-air-conditioned buses plying for block connectivity under LAccMI will charge fares ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 30 depending on travel distance upto 80 km. Similarly, air-conditioned buses for district connectivity will charge Rs 10 to Rs 80 depending on the distance under the new public transport network programme.
The Transport department also announced concession in fares for women, students and physically challenged passengers under the scheme. These categories of passengers would be charged a flat fare of Rs 5 for block connectivity and Rs 10 for district connectivity buses.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched Rs 3,178-crore LAccMI to establish connectivity between gram panchayats and state capital in Malkangiri district.
Under LAccMI, buses will operate in rural areas of six districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Kalahandi, and Gajapati, having no or less public transport connectivity, in the first phase. The buses will run from panchayats to block headquarters and from block headquarters to district headquarters.
Bus operation would be implemented in a phased manner under this 10-year scheme with an aim to reduce the gap between rural areas and major towns and economic hubs across the state, source said.
