Bhubaneswar: To ensure Sustainable, Affordable, Assured and Safe Transportation of passengers and commodities across the State, Government of Odisha has launched a scheme titled – ‘Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative’ (LAccMI). Some of the major benefits which are envisaged under the Scheme:
i) It will establish a seamless Public Transport network across the State from GP level upto State Capital to provide reliable and affordable services.
ii) Within the framework of the LAccMI Scheme, women’s empowerment stands as a top priority. Due to safe transport space, Women would be encouraged to participate actively in the workforce. Mission Shakti Self Help Group (SHGs) will be engaged in various operation & maintenance-related activities within the Blocks.
iii) Facilitating efficient means of transport of agricultural commodities from their production sites to appropriate destinations would be another initiative under the Scheme. This would encompass timely transportation of various agricultural and perishable products from producers to nearby marketplaces, Mandis and similar commercial hubs
Transportation is a major growth engine for the growth of the economy. In Odisha though Road infrastructure has been enhanced but corresponding Public Transportation is yet to take off Accordingly, the State Government has proposed to provide reliable and affordable Public Transport across the State focusing on the rural areas. Under the LAccMI Scheme the bus network planning has been undertaken in a hierarchical manner:
(1) ‘Block Connectivity’ facilitating connectivity between GPs and their respective Block HQs, (2) ‘District Connectivity’ connecting Block HQs to their respective District HQs and (3) ‘Jagannath Express’ connecting District HQs to Bhubaneswar or to Puri via Bhubaneswar: and (4) ‘LAccMI Express’ providing connectivity between District HQs and/or major cities (Inter-district & Inter-cluster connectivity).
The project cost is estimated to be approximately Rs 3.178 crore in the first three years of the bus operation from 2023-24 to 2025-26. The Bus Operation under this Scheme has been planned to connect all the GPs, Block Headquarters. District Headquarters, major Cities and economic hubs across the State LAccMI Scheme would be implemented in a phased manner. About 1000 buses would be deployed under the Scheme The tenure of the scheme would be for 10 years further extendable by 2 years. Based on the review and performance further allocation would be considered.
