Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the Laxmi Bus services in Odisha’s Deogarh, Angul, and Dhenkanal districts today.
After inaugurating the service through video conferencing, Patnaik said that Lakshmi Bus service has made our life easier and it will play an important role in the economic development of villages.
Notably, the Laxmi Bus service was first started in Malkangari. In the first phase, the service was introduced in Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Gajapati, and Koraput districts of the state.
With the bus service being expanded to three more districts today, a total of 101 buses will ply in 440 panchayats and will benefit more than 27 lakh people. A total of 17 buses will be rolled in 69 panchayats of Deogarh benefitting 3 lakh people. Similarly, 29 buses will ply in 176 panchayats of Angul which will benefit 11.50 lakh people and 55 buses will serve 13 lakh people in 195 panchayats of Dhenkanal.
Under this scheme, bus services will be offered every village in a district to the block headquarters. More than 1,000 buses will ply across the state. In this programme, launched under the 5T scheme, Mission Shakti members have been given the responsibility of operating the buses.
Addressing people on this occasion, Patnaik said, “Our aim is to make the Panchayat the center of development and strengthen the economy of the village. Lakshmi Bus service will play an important role in this.”
Speaking on the occasion, 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian said that the Laxmi bus is the property of the people.
“It is your property. Please take proper care of it,” said Pandian advising the bus crews to treat people with due respect and take care of their safety.
Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu was present in Deogarh and Praful Kumar Mallik, Minister of Transport, was present in Dhenkanal. They said that due to the vision of the Chief Minister, the people of the villages are getting the benefits of the city today. The Laxmi Yojana has improved the lives of rural people. They opined that people’s trust in the government has increased.
Dhenkanal MLA Sudhir Kumar Samal, Angul MLA Rajnikant Singh, Deogarh MLA Brajkishore Pradhan, and Deogarh District Council president Kaushik Kumar Pradhan attended the programme and presented their opinions.
Chief Administrative Secretary of Trade and Transport Department Usha Padhi delivered the welcome speech at the event.
