Private Operators In Odisha Oppose Mo Bus Services On New Routes, Seek CM’s Intervention

Bhubaneswar: The All Odisha Bus Owners’ Association has opposed the state government’s reported plan to launch Mo Bus services on new routes saying the move will adversely affect them.

Voicing concern over the state government’s reported move, the association has sought Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s intervention into the issue.

The association, In its letter to the Chief Minster, claimed that the Transport Minister, during a meeting on October 26, had assured bus owners that status-quo will be maintained regarding operation of Mo Buses in the state.

It had been also decided in the meeting that the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department would form a committee to take any final decision regarding the extension of Mo Bus services in the state, it said.

However, the department has recently announced launch of Mo Bus services on new routes from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar to Puri and Cuttack without any consultation with the committee. Similarly, the state government has planned to launch Mo Bus service in Keonjhar and Berhampur regions without any prior consultation, the association lamented.

The association claimed that the extension of Mo Bus services to new areas and plying of buses in rural areas under the LAccMI scheme will adversely affect the private bus owners.

The association has urged the Chief Minister to intervene iand take appropriate steps for the survival of private bus owners in the state.

The bus owners’ association had earlier written to the Transport department Principal Secretary opposing the extension of Mo Bus services beyond the urban areas in the state.