The All Odisha Bus Owners Association has opposed the state government’s plan to run Mo Bus on two more routes in the state. The association has shot a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday, expressing its displeasure.
As per reports, the government has decided to run Mo Buses from Bhubaneswar Airport to Puri and Cuttack and on Keonjhar-Berhampur routes.
In the letter, Debendra Sahoo, the general secretary of the All Odisha Bus Owners Association has urged the Chief Minister to consider the issue in the larger interest of the bus owners. “We would like to appraise your good self on the present issues on the operation of MO bus which are being faced by the private bus operators of Odisha,” the letter read.
He also pointed out that at a meeting chaired by the Commerce and Transport Minister on October 26, it was decided to maintain the status quo on the operation of Mo Bus and LAccMI buses for the time being while any plan of expansion of their services would be considered later by a committee of the Urban and Housing Development Department.
He also lamented that the planning to operate MO buses and LAccMI buses on various inter-city routes will make it difficult for private bus operators to survive.