Bhubaneswar: In a major relief to students and working women and students in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the Odisha Commerce and Transport department has directed the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) to resume the all-women bus service between the two on a priority basis.
Women in the twin cities have been demanding the resumption of the bus service for some time now and the government has accepted their demand. Transport department Under Secretary, Anil Kumar Parija, has directed the OSRTC to take expeditious steps to resume the operation of the women-special bus service.
The Odisha government introduced the all-women special bus service in 2013 after the tragic Nirbhaya incident in New Delhi. The government aimed to ensure the of students and working women but after some time the OSRTC discontinued the service.
Soon after the service was withdrawn, several women representatives knocked on the door of the Chief Minister Grievance Cell demanding the resumption of the special service.
Acting on the pleas, the Transport department issued an order asking the OSRTC to resume the service. “OSRTC has been asked to resume the service on a priority basis,” a Transport department official said.