OSRTC To Purchase 70 Buses

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government would provide capital investment support to OSRTC for the purchase of 70 new buses, said an official on Tuesday.

This was discussed at a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi here on Tuesday.

It was decided in the meeting that in the first phase around 70 AC and Non-AC buses would be procured by Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) with an investment of Rs. 33 crore.

The Corporation will spend around Rs.13 crore from its own resources and Rs.20 crore would be provided as capital support from the government through the department of Commerce and Transport.

Chief Secretary directed that all new buses to be procured should be of better quality from the perspectives of the security and comfort of the passengers.

ORSTC managing director Sudhansu Sadangi said, ‘Corporation has computerized all its accounts.  E-ticketing machines have been installed and manual ticketing has been abolished. Internet/mobile ticketing has been introduced. As of now, 60% of the tickets are being booked through online system in advance. This has curtailed the pilferage.”

The corporation has targeted to start premium bus service from 25th October. One bus–One staff policy would be adopted for all future buses, said a release.

The system of the central store has been substituted by virtual store through IDICOL software.