BBUTT – Balasore Bhadrak Urban Transport Trust . In 2017, a total of 15 city buses were introduced in Balasore at an expenditure of 8 crore rupees, aimed at enhancing public transportation services.
Balasore Bhadrak Urban Transport Trust
However, it appears that the district administration and municipal officials were unaware of the city’s road conditions. Although the buses operated for a brief period following their launch, the service ultimately failed due to the inadequacy of the narrow roads.
Subsequently, some of these buses were sold to Balasore Fakir Mohan Medical College and Fakir Mohan University, while the remaining buses have been abandoned in front of the Gandhi Smriti Bhawan, deteriorating over time. Despite the government’s investment of 8 crores in the unsuccessful city bus service, the administration persisted with plans to introduce a battery-operated e-bus service. These environmentally friendly, air-conditioned buses, capable of traveling 150 km on a single charge, were commissioned by the district administration for city operations.
Nine battery-powered buses were procured, with the intention of operating them through the Balasore Bhadrak Urban Transport Trust. The residents of Balasore initially welcomed this initiative; however, it too ultimately failed. The likely reasons for this failure include a lack of attention to maintenance, staff recruitment, and the establishment of charging stations necessary for the operation of these buses. A proposal was made to construct a charging station for the e-buses at the new bus stand in Remuna Ganeshwarpur, but only a bus stand structure was erected, with no infrastructure developed for the charging station.
Consequently, similar to the earlier city buses, these e-buses also did not succeed. Of the nine e-buses brought to Balasore, six were intended for local routes, while three were to operate between Bhadrak and Balasore; unfortunately, this plan did not come to fruition. Since their inauguration, these buses have been left to deteriorate at the office of the Balasore Regional Transport Officer, highlighting a significant lack of foresight and determination in the administration.