Bhubaneswar: In a significant move towards enhancing rural connectivity and fostering economic growth, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Lakshmi Bus Scheme in Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Nuapada, and Boudh districts via video conferencing on Wednesday.
The Lakshmi Bus initiative aims to make social and cultural programs more accessible in villages, promoting economic development while ensuring cost-effective transportation for daily activities. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Lakshmi Bus would simplify the life journey of villagers.
On its debut day, 255 buses commenced operations in 1,057 panchayats across the five districts, benefitting more than 71 lakh people. Balasore, Nuapada, Boudh, Ganjam, and Jagatsinghpur witnessed the deployment of 48, 25, 10, 130, and 42 buses, respectively, covering various panchayats and benefiting the local populace.
Lakshmi buses are now operational in all 30 districts of Odisha, with 1,354 buses serving 6,031 panchayats and benefiting 3.64 crore people. The Chief Minister highlighted that a total of 1,745 buses will eventually operate across all panchayats in the state.
Under this scheme, bus services have been facilitated from the panchayat to the block, with Mission Shakti Mothers entrusted with driving the buses. The initiative aligns with the 5T (Teamwork, Technology, Transparency, Time, and Transformation) initiative.
Addressing the public, Chief Minister Patnaik emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the communication challenges faced by rural communities. He expressed gratitude for the people’s feedback, which contributed to the formulation and implementation of the Lakshmi Bus Yojana.
Patnaik also acknowledged the transformative role Lakshmi Bus would play in strengthening the village economy, connecting people, facilitating education, and linking farmers to markets. The Chief Minister encouraged cooperation from all stakeholders to build a new Odisha.
Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu, present at Boudh during the launch, highlighted the prosperity that Lakshmi Bus would bring to households, supporting education and family well-being. VK Pandian, Chairman of 5T and Nabin Odisha, coordinated the program and emphasized the collective responsibility of maintaining Lakshmi Bus as a valuable asset for the state.
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