City bus service set to roll in Silk City Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: The Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) has planned two new bus services, one within Berhampur town, another connecting Berhampur, Gopalpur and Chhatrapur comprising the Greater-Berhampur region.
The services will be launched through public private partnership (PPP), at an estimated cost of 3.5 crore. At least 27 buses will ply in the first phase.

A Mumbai-based consulting agency presented a detailed project report in this regard recently. The agency has suggested the formation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with involving the BDA, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Notified Area Councils (NAC) of Gopalpur and Chhatrapur to monitor the services.
At present, passengers depend on trekkers and matadors for travelling to these two places from Berhampur. "Not only is time a big factor, but travel in trekkers and matadors is also a risky affair. These are always overcrowded. Moreover, there are no town bus services within Berhampur. So, we have also suggested a bus service for the town," a BDA official said. The Berhampur city had introduced a town bus service in 1991. The service was later discontinued as it incurred heavy loss.

Source: Times of India, The Sambad

Bandh demanding basic amenities disrupts normal life in Malkangiri

BERHAMPUR: Day to day life was completely disrupted in Malkangiri town and some parts of South Odisha on Tuesday due to a bandh call given by the ‘Malkangiri Zilla Surakshya Samity (MZSS)'. They had given this call for five demands and apathy of administrative officials towards these demands. President of MZSS, G.Srinivas Rao said they would hold a meeting on Tuesday night to decide about their next course of action.

This bandh call in Malkangiri town had its impact throughout Malkangiri district. No vehicles travelled between the district headquarters town and other places of the district. Trips of passenger buses from all parts of Malkangiri district to outside were also cancelled as they had to pass through Malkangiri town.

The bandh call was complete in Malkangiri town. All government and private establishments remained closed. Educational institutions and banks were also closed. Protestors picketed and blocked road at several points at Malkangiri town. This bandh call had the support of all organisations of Malkangiri town including the Committee of Concerned Citizens (CCC), local bar association, traders' association and political leaders, said Mr. Rao.

Members of MZSS also demonstrated in front of the office of the Malkangiri Collector on Monday for these five demands. Mr. Rao said they opted for the bandh call as the Collector did not show concern regarding their demands to hold discussions with them about their demands.

The demands are mostly related to basic amenities. They allege that most roads in Malkangiri town are in extreme dilapidated condition and need renovation. They also want end of continuing undeclared power cuts in their area. They alleged that piped drinking water supply system was yet to be streamlined in Malkangiri town and they demanded proper supply of drinking water in their area. The agitators also demanded speedy completion of renovation and widening work of Malkangiri-Kalimela road which according to them is being delayed by the construction company that has taken the contract.

The most important demand of the agitators is related to the settlement of land records of all rural and urban pockets of the district. Source: The Hindu