Baripada: Despite identification of land for construction of a new bus stand at Baripada town in Mayurbhanj district in view of congestion and lack of amenities in the existing one, work is yet to begin owing to administrative apathy, locals said Sunday.
The 44-year-old existing bus stand is in a poor shape and lacks basic amenities for which commuters face several difficulties, they added.
Land for setting up the new bus stand was identified at Darogadahi locality on Baripada outskirts several years ago. However, construction is yet to begin even though locals have been running from pillar to post. Some of them warned of protests, if the project is delayed further.
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Baripada is close to neighbouring states such as West Bengal and Jharkhand. The old bus stand existing on two acre of land is around 20 metre away from Mayurbhanj district collectorate, a school and a court as well.
More than 250 buses ply every day from other districts in Odisha and neighbouring states to Baripada town. With increasing population in this town, buses often halt at unmarked places leading to traffic snarls.
“The fate of proposed bus terminal in Baripada town hangs in balance amid lack of political and administrative commitment. Even though land has already been identified, the project has made no progress yet. Besides, the existing old bus stand does not have minimum facilities such as drinking water, waiting hall and toilet for passengers,” district Bus Owners’ Association president Raghunath Panda said.
The association has erected a rest shed for bus staff. Buses coming to Baripada town are usually being parked on both sides of a road near Satya Sai Square. Parking so many buses inside the existing bus stand is not possible, Panda added.
Meanwhile, local residents and public representatives including Baripada’s BJP MLA Prakash Soren, Congress district unit president Hemanta Kumar Das have demanded that the project work should begin on a war footing.
PNN