Odisha’s Urban Development Minister, Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, on Tuesday, announced the construction of a state-of-the-art bus terminal in Baripada in Mayurbhanj district.
Designed to mirror the facilities of a modern airport, the project aims to establish northern Odisha as a premier transport hub.
Chairing a meeting on the project, Mahapatra said the new bus terminal will be a landmark public infrastructure project in northern parts of the coastal state.
The new terminal will be named the Atal Bus Stand, in honour of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the minister said.
“Baripada will be developed as a major transport hub. There will be no shortage of funds for this project. All departments concerned must work in coordination to ensure timely execution with the highest standards of quality,” he added.
Spanning 5 acres of land, the ‘Atal Bus Stand’ is intended to streamline regional travel and designed with a strong emphasis on passenger comfort, safety, accessibility, and operational efficiency, Mahapatra said.
The facility will have features including waiting halls, restrooms, food courts, retail spaces and facilities for persons with disabilities (PwDs), he said.
The minister said the civic body will plant over 6,000 saplings in and around the project area.
The new bus terminal is expected to decongest the city and enhance connectivity to major destinations, including Bhubaneswar, Balasore and Kolkata, he said.
