Kashinagar: The bitter dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh over the territorial jurisdiction rights on Kotia panchayat of Koraput district as well as Gangabada and Kerandi panchayats of Gajapati district seems to be worsening with the passing of each day, a report said.
In the latest development, it has been found that a private passenger bus has been plying from Kashinagar in Gajapati district to Vizianagaram (Vijaynagar) in the neighbouring state without necessary route permit.
The bus, named as Sri Srinivasa of Andhra Pradesh (AP-30 TC-3627), has been plying since the last few days. The matter came to the fore after the regional transport officer (RTO) in Gajapati directed officials to undertake a physical verification of the vehicle.
Sources said that the bus does not have a route permit allowing it to ply from Odisha to Andhra Pradesh. This has resulted in revenue losses for the Transport department, while the revenue generated is being accrued by Andhra Pradesh.
The bus leaves Kashinagar at 4.45 am and reaches Vizianagaram at 8.30pm every day. The bus makes night halt at Vizianagaram and leaves for Kashinagar in the wee hours of the following day.
To everyone’s surprise, Chitri Simadri, president of Gajapati District Bus Owners’ Association, expressed his ignorance about this development.
He said that the association is not aware of any bus plying on the route. Meanwhile, locals have questioned as to how a bus could ply between Kashinagar and Vizianagaram without a route permit and the knowledge of the Gajapati district Bus Owners’ Association.
PNN
