Shri Jagannath Express bus service to Puri launched virtually at Rayagada by Chief Minister
Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, January 19: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched Shri Jagannath Express Yojana on last Thursday afternoon. Since Rayagada district is included in 12 districts in the first phase of this plan, Naveen Patnaik launched the Sri Jagannath Express bus service from Rayagada to Puri through virtual mode. Rayagada MLA Makarand Muduli, Gunpur MLA Raghunath Gamang, Special Development Council Chairperson Anusuya Majhi, CDO-cum-EO Nihar Ranjan Kahanr, Sub-Collector Sanghamitra Kalyani Devi, Rayagada BDO Amulya Kumar Sahu were guests in the launching program held at Rayagada District Collector’s office. Additional Superintendent of Police Bishnu Prasad Patra, DIPRO Basant Kumar Pradhan, District Tourism Officer Bhagwan Khara, District Sports Officer Sheikh Alenur, Emergency Officer Suryamani Bhoi, MVI Raj Kumar Behera and others were also present in the program held under the supervision of Regional Transport Officer Shiv Shankar Chaudhury.
Shree Jagannath Express bus is scheduled to travel to Puri from all districts of the state. In the first phase, this bus service has been started from 12 places such as Rayagada, Balangir, Malkangiri, Jaipur, Nabarangpur, Bhavanipatna, Nuapada, Bargarh, Parlakhemundi, Sambalpur, Jharsugada, Sundergarh. This air-conditioned bus has seating capacity for 51 people, which is going to cover a long distance of 448 km from Rayagada to Puri. In order to book tickets, one has to buy online, said Chiadhury. The price of the online ticket is Rs 1075. It will leave from Rayagada bus stand regularly at 7.45 PM and reach next day at Puri by 5.40 AM via Mohana, Digapahandi, Brahmapur, Chhatrapur, Khordha, Bhubaneswar, Maltipatpur. It will leave Puri at 8 PM and reach Rayagada next day by 6 AM.
There was no direct bus service from Rayagada to Puri. Chief Minister has made it possible for a person to reach Puri with his family safely in Sri Jagannath Express, get a chance to have darshan & return by bus. CM that another bus will reach Rayagada within the next week. Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu delivered her speech virtually from Balangir. The program was moderated by 5T Chairman VK Pandian. Denizens of Rayagada district expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and 5T Chairman V K Pandian for providing Sri Jagannath bus service from Rayagada Shraddha Srikhetra area to Puri shrine.
