Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated four modern bus services for devotees from four locations in Odisha to mark the Mahakumbh Mela on January 12. These premium buses, operated by the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC), will travel from Puri, Sambalpur, Bhawanipatna, and Berhampur to Ayodhya, via Varanasi and Prayagraj.
During a virtual ceremony held at Lok Seva Bhavan, the Chief Minister flagged off the buses and conveyed his best wishes to the devotees, expressing hope that they would gain immense blessings from this pilgrimage.
The Chief Minister announced that, in the first phase, four buses are being operated, with plans for additional buses should the need arise. He noted that this is the first time such a long journey, spanning over 2,500 kilometres, has been initiated.
He further highlighted that the world-renowned Mahakumbh Mela is taking place in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, from Paush Purnima to Mahashivaratri (January 13 to February 26). The event attracts lakhs of devotees, pilgrims, and saints from across India and abroad. Thousands of devotees from Odisha are also making their way to Prayagraj, and this bus service has been introduced for their convenience.
On the first day, 200 devotees from Odisha set off on their journey to the Mahakumbh Mela. The Chief Minister announced a 50 per cent concession on ticket prices for female passengers.
The buses are equipped with features such as live vehicle tracking, panic buttons, and a driver assistance system to ensure passenger safety. Additionally, all necessary facilities for a comfortable journey have been arranged. A 24-hour help desk has also been established for the convenience of Mahakumbh Mela travellers. Passengers can contact the help desk at 1800 345 1122 or via WhatsApp at 78490 52205.
The Chief Minister also informed that OSRTC staff have been deployed in Prayagraj to assist passengers.
Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, present in Berhampur, extended his best wishes to the passengers. He mentioned that the state government is conducting a month-long road safety campaign to enhance safety in the transport sector, urging everyone to follow traffic rules to ensure safe travel.
In Bhawanipatna, Member of Parliament Malavika Devi; in Sambalpur, MLA Jaynarayan Mishra; in Puri, Brahmagiri MLA Upasana Mahapatra; and at Lok Seva Bhavan, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh were present. Senior officials, including the Principal Secretary of the Commerce and Transport Department Usha Padhi, Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur, and OSRTC Chairman and Managing Director Diptesh Pattnayak, also attended the event.
