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MRTS for twin cities on the cards

BHUBANESWAR: With Bhubaneswar-Cuttack twin cities expanding and floating population swelling like never before, the State government is contemplating putting a mass rapid transport system (MRTS) in place with an envisaged investment of Rs. 2,246 crore.

Addressing citizens at an interactive session on ‘Post-Commissionerate: Traffic Status in Bhubaneswar’ organised by city-based Media Academy here on Sunday, Commerce and Transport Secretary Priyabrata Patnaik said it was proposed to have a light monorail system between Bidanasi and the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) at Bidyadharpur via Malgodam in Cuttack. The distance has been estimated to be 13.32 km. Similarly, high capacity buses would be plied from Jayadev Vihar Square to Chandaka Industrial Estate covering a distance of 11.54 km, Mr. Patnaik said.

He said as per the projection more than two lakh people would be working in that area by 2011. RITES, a central government consultancy agency, had been entrusted with the task of carrying out feasibility study for MRTS in the twin cities. The recommendations will be implemented within five years, Mr. Patnaik said The high capacity bus services would start between Malgodam and AG Square in the Capital, Malgodam and Choudwar, and AG Square and Aiginia, the transport secretary said. Since the projects may not be attractive to the private sector, the State Transport and Commerce department would seek assistance from Ministry of Urban Development to get the viability gap funding. Besides, the BMC was also contemplating starting Bus Rapid Transport System in the capital city soon. Vice-Chairman of the BDA Nikunja Behari Dhal pointed out that there was pressure on traffic due to absence of public transport system.

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