Buses go off road in undivided Koraput as owners' association ups the ante against LAccMI scheme

The Bus Owners’ Association on Monday launched strike against the Odisha government’s sustainable and affordable transportation under the ‘Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative’ (LAccMI) scheme.

The State government is scheduled to roll out the LAccMI scheme in undivided Koraput that includes the districts of Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada and Koraput, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

The dawn-to-dusk bandh has affected normal lives as vehicular movements were briefly affected due to the protest called by the Bus Owners’ Association. No vehicles are being allowed to enter or leave the districts of undivided Koraput.

“They are running this scheme by buying old vehicles from a Gujarat company. We, private bus owners, will suffer immense losses due to this LAccMI scheme. Today, the protest is being observed peacefully only in undivided Koraput. We will launch statewide protest from October 10,” said Venkat Rao, President of the Private Bus Owners’ Association, Malkangiri.

“The private bus owners’ association was with the people when they needed us the most. We ferried people during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, the government has brought these vehicles from a Gujarat or Maharashtra-based company and plying it here. We welcome the LAccMI scheme, but our demand is that we be included in it. They are favouring Gujarat and Maharashtra-based companies, but kicking on our stomach,” said another protester.

“Many of us have bought new vehicles after the government scrapped 15-year-old vehicles. Now, who will pay our EMIs if other buses are launched here? We are happy about the affordable transportation facilities being launched for the people here. But, our demand is to include us in the scheme,” another protester said.