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Puri: Despite Odisha government spending nearly Rs 80 crore on the Malitipatpur bus stand in Puri, lack of maintenance has left the terminal in a shambles.
While heaps of garbage can be found at multiple places, chunks of concrete are collapsing from the roof, washrooms are stinking dirty and lack of drinking water facility have made the bus terminal inhospitable for passengers. The tourists and bus drivers have already staged protest before the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation's (OSRTC) office demanding steps in this regard.
"The washrooms are dirty. While half of them are closed, others don't even have water supply. There is no facility to wash the vehicles as well," a bus driver said.
In 2015, before the 'Nabakalebara', the Odisha government had spent nearly Rs 80 crore to construct the bus terminal; however, after the mega event no tourist buses were parked at the terminal. Subsequently, a decision was taken to allow tourist buses coming from outside the State to be parked at the bus stand.
As per reports, while Rs 480 is collected from each bus towards maintenance, nothing is spent. The OSRTC has been given the charge of maintenance of the bus stand.
Additional collector and the local MLA, Maheswar Mohanty have said that the mismanagement will be brought to the notice of the respective departments.
"Many have lodged complaints regarding mismanagement at the bus stand. I will soon speak to the CMD of OSRTC to take adequate steps to resolve the issue at the earliest," Mohanty said.
