Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to standardise bus infrastructure across Odisha, the Commerce and Transport (C&T) Department has initiated the process of taking over all bus stands currently under Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
In a communication, Principal Secretary of the Commerce and Transport Department, NBS Rajput, has urged the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department to issue necessary instructions to ULBs for handing over all bus stands under their jurisdiction to the C&T Department.
The move follows the state Cabinet’s approval in its meeting held on April 10, 2026, for the new “Atal Bus Stand” Scheme. The scheme aims at the comprehensive construction, renovation, development, operation, maintenance, and management of bus stands across the state under a unified framework.
According to the letter, all existing bus stands developed under previous schemes as well as those managed by Urban Local Bodies will be integrated into the “Atal Bus Stand” Scheme. This centralization is intended to ensure uniform standards in development, operations, and maintenance.
The C&T Department has also informed that a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the handover process will be issued separately.
The decision is expected to bring better coordination, improved facilities for passengers, and professional management of bus terminals under one umbrella. Once implemented, the “Atal Bus Stand” Scheme will cover both new constructions and the upgradation of existing infrastructure throughout the state.
