CM flags off 30 buses for remote areas

Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik flagged off 30 more buses under the Biju Gaon Gadi Yojana (BGGY), meant for remote, inaccessible areas, here today.

These 30 new buses, will ply in 28 routes in Sundergarh, Deogarh, Gajapati and Nuapada districts.

A decision was taken by the state government to extend rural connectivity in backward tribal districts and Maoist affected areas of Odisha in the third phase. Fifty seven buses are already operational for these areas under the two earlier phases of the rural connectivity scheme.

Under the scheme, an operator running buses on these routes will get benefits of exemption of road tax and permit fee from the state government for a maximum period of 5 years from the date of issuance of the first permit under the scheme.

The beneficiary can also avail loan for purchasing vehicle from Banks/Financial Institutions with a loan repayment period of more than 5 years. But the benefits under the scheme can be availed for a maximum period of 5 years, OSRTC sources said.