Odisha housing and urban development dept to regulate public transport system
Bhubaneswar: The state housing and urban development department (H&UD) will soon be given the authority of regulating the public transport services in Bhubaneswar and other urban areas of Odisha.
At present, the transport department is controlling the activities of public transports. But once implemented, the H&UD department will be controlling the activities like setting fare structure, allotting route to public transports and installation of fare meter and speed governor in auto-rickshaws and taxis.
The transport department will continue working on registration of vehicles, enforcement of Motor Vehicle Act, issuing licences and giving fitness certificates to vehicles.
The transport department has given its consent to the proposal of H&UD department seeking delegation of the regulation power of urban mobility and transport system. Once the Cabinet gives approval, the transfer of power will be done.
It is expected that this shift of power would bring in better results in the urban transport system. As the Centre is sponsoring many urban mobility and transport projects, H&UD department wants the urban transport system to be governed by itself. That is the reason the department requested the transport department to transfer the power.
The Centre would fund the state for the proposed introduction of mono-rail service between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, high speed bus service in Bhubaneswar and intercity metro rail service between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
The H&UD department has requested the Union ministry of urban development to provide logistic support and funds to start the proposed intercity metro rail service, christened as ‘mass rapid transit system” (MRTS).
According to the urban planners, the government has to improve the existing public transport system first and then plan on new urban mobility projects.
Though the bus service in the city was started in 2012, the whole system still lacks requisite infrastructure. There are no dedicated walkways for pedestrians and tracks for cycle riders. Adequate parking areas are also not provided.
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