Odisha CM Inaugurates 20 New Bus Stands Under ‘Ama Bus Stand’ Scheme

Bhubaneswar: On Thursday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated 20 newly constructed bus stands in 13 districts across Odisha under the ‘Ama Bus Stand’ scheme. The districts benefiting from this initiative include Angul, Balasore, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Koraput, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur, and Subarnapur.

Emphasizing the pivotal role of communication in development, Chief Minister Patnaik stated, “Communication is the basis of development. It is the main strength of our economy. Our goal is to improve the communication system from the village to the city.” He highlighted the 5T initiative’s focus on enhancing communication infrastructure and public transport, connecting villages to blocks under the Lakshmi Yojana.

The Chief Minister underscored the positive impact of improved communication on farmers’ benefits and children’s education, citing the initiation of the metro rail plan in Bhubaneswar. Regarding the ‘Ama Bus Stand’ scheme, he expressed optimism that the newly constructed bus stands would evolve into business hubs, fostering economic activities in the regions.

Chief Minister Patnaik urged the need to strengthen public transport infrastructure and raise awareness among people to encourage extensive use of the public transport system. Safety measures and proper maintenance of common facilities at the new bus stands were emphasized to ensure the well-being of the public.

State Commerce and Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu, Minister for Planning and Coordination Rajendra Dholakia, Minister for Scheduled Tribes and Castes Development Jagannath Saraka, and State Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Pradeep Kumar participated in the program across different districts.

The program, coordinated by 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian, witnessed the participation of MLAs Anant Das, Raghuram Padal, and Padmanav Behera. They praised the initiative for addressing the transit system’s challenges and shared positive experiences from residents, highlighting the impact on students from economically disadvantaged families.

During the event, residents Armil Edla and Lucky Sahu expressed their gratitude, stating that the Chief Minister’s bus stand initiatives have brought city-like amenities to their regions. Usha Padhi, Principal Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Transport, delivered the welcome address, and Diptesh Patnaik, CMD of OSRTC, extended the vote of thanks. The program aimed to celebrate the milestone in the state’s transport service sector and promote the proper upkeep of these public facilities.