Bhubaneswar: Anticipating a substantial influx of devotees to Puri after inauguration Srimandir Parikrama project, the Odisha government is planning launch of Jagannath Express bus service under its Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI), connecting the districts to Puri via Bhubaneswar, on January 16.
“About 60 buses would be initially deployed to Puri to ensure smooth transportation of devotees from far-off places to Puri,” Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, the advisor to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, told the media during a visit to the pilgrim town to oversee the preparations of the inauguration of the heritage corridor project on Wednesday.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik is likely to flag off the buses from Malatipatpur bus stand in Puri.
Sources said that the tentative launch on the eve of the Parikrama Prakalp’s opening is aimed at facilitating transport of devotees from the districts to Puri to witness the massive transformation around the 12th century shrine. The final date is likely to be announced in a day or two.
A total of 122 Jagannath Express buses are likely to connect Puri with 29 other districts.
Mahapatra also conducted a review meeting, which was attended by Temple chief administrator Ranjan Kumar Das, district collector Samarth Verma, officials from executing agencies, and members of the temple managing body.
