PBOA opposes entry fee at modern bus terminus

Sambalpur Private Bus Owners Association (PBOA) has expressed its dissatisfaction over entry fees in the upcoming modern bus terminus at the Ainthapali area of the city.
The PBOA has decided not to shift to the upcoming modern bus terminus over the parking fees.
The modern bus terminus is being developed on 5.28 acres of land along the National Highway-6 at Ainthapali. Bhusan Power and Steel Limited has been assigned with the responsibility to develop the modern bus terminus at an estimated cost of Rs 13 crore there.
Earlier, the private bus stand was at the same spot but it was shifted to new location for developing it to a modern bus terminus.

"We had shifted from the land, where the modern bus terminus is being developed, to pave way for implementation of the project. We had also welcomed the move. But the entry fee, fixed by the administration, have shattered all our expectations," said President of PBOA, Shailendra Singh.
"The district administration has fixed a rate of Rs 60 per trip for each private bus operating from the terminus. The amount is quite high for the bus owners. We can give Rs 30. If the district administration does not reduce the price, we will not shift to the new bus terminus," said Singh.

"We have also written to the Chief Minister, Transport Minister, Housing and Urban Development Minister, Chief Secretary, RDC, Northern Division and Sambalpur district collector on the issue," he said.

"We pay only Rs 10 per day at the place where the bus stand is operating now. But we have to pay Rs 60 per trip at the upcoming bus terminus. It is unjustified," said Singh.
Around 300 buses pass through Sambalpur Bus stand.
"The work on modern bus terminus is about to complete. It was a long pending demand of the people. The authorities should resolve the problem of entry fee and start operating the modern bus terminus at the earliest," said a commuter, Dhira Biswal.

Sambalpur District collector, Balwant Singh said Rs 13 crore has been spent on the modern bus terminus where all facilities for the buses and commuters will be made available. However, the terminus will require maintenance. The fees collected from the buses will be spent on maintenance.
The Collector also sought the cooperation of the bus owners in this regard.