BDA proposes for city buses

Berhampur: Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) has proposed inter and intra city bus services in public, private partnership (PPP) mode. In the first phase of the Rs 3.5 crore project, around 24 buses are proposed to ply in the town and from here to Gopalpur and Chhatrapur, the adjoining towns of Berhampur.

A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is to be formed consisting of BDA, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Notified Area Councils (NAC) of Gopalpur and Chhatrapur for the purpose, official sources said.

"The operator will be selected through competitive bidding. The selected bidder will invest in the project, while we will provide all other necessary facilities," BDA Chairman Kailash Rana said. The BMC and other two urban local bodies have agreed to be involved in the proposed bus services, he said. The buses will operate from Berhampur to Gopalpur, Gopalpur to Chhatrapur and Berhampur to Chhatrapur, besides within the town, he said.

Presently there was no bus service from Berhampur to Gopalpur and Chhatrapur. Berhampur Municipality had introduced the city bus services in 1991. The services, however, stopped after some years of operation due to loss. While Gopalpur was identified as the famous sea beach tourist town, Chhatrapur is the district headquarters town of Ganjam. Hundreds of people travel to these two towns every day from Berhampur.

"Since Berhampur is a growing commercial town and the government is planning a greater Berhampur involving Gopalpur and Chhatrapur towns, proper bus services are necessary," MLA (Berhampur) R.Ch Chyaupatnaik said.