Keonjhar: The Odisha government launched the LAccMI (Location Accessible Multimodal Initiative) bus scheme to provide easy and affordable transportation to people from all strata of society. However, a bus operating under the scheme got stuck at the Banajodi toll gate under Sadar block on NH-20 for more than three hours Friday.
The reason for which the vehicle remained stranded was peculiar indeed; the FASTag of the bus failed to pay the fare required at the toll gate. The bus (OD 09 AB 1066) was travelling from this town with stops at villages under Palashapanga, and Raikala panchayats before terminating at Handibhanga panchayat. Students belonging to different schools, teachers, and job holders of various other professions were travelling on the bus. The bus got stranded at around 6.00 am at the toll gate. The driver repeatedly tried to contact higher-ups over the mobile, but there was no response. Many people got tired of waiting and disembarked the vehicle. They availed of other means of transport to reach their respective destinations and in the process had to shell out excess amount of money. Those who continued to wait finally breathed a sigh of relief when the problem was solved and the bus resumed its journey after approximately three hours.
Sources here pointed out that 63 LAccMI buses are plying through various panchayats and villages in this district. However, no proper timetable has been issued regarding the services. As a result, many people are not being able to avail the benefits LAccMI bus services offer, the sources added. “If people were aware of the bus timings in various panchayats, they would have benefitted,” locals pointed out. “OSRTC and RTO should take necessary steps to publish a proper timetable so that passengers can conveniently travel,” they added. Gourav Jena, district transport manager, OSRTC Keonjhar, blamed the server problem as the main reason for which the bus got stranded. “Many times due to server problems, the necessary amounts from the fast tags are not deducted at various toll gates. We will take appropriate steps to ensure that the problem is solved,” he said.
