Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday asked the Transport Department to ensure that buses under the Biju Gaon Gadi scheme run in 280 gram panchayats by December this year.
The Chief Minister issued this direction while reviewing performance of the Commerce and Transport Department during the last two years at the State Secretariat.
It was revealed that Biju Gaon Gadi service is now available in 490 GPs under 112 ITDA block in 12 districts. The Chief Minister directed to provide the service in 280 of the rest 335 GPs by December-end. He too asked the department to introduce online system in Transport offices to provide services to people in a transparent manner.
Besides, it was revealed that two districts, Kendrapada and Nayagarh, would have railway connectivity by March 2017.
Similarly, MoUs would be signed in coming seven days for construction of railway lines in five other districts, including Malkangiri, which have no railway connectivity.
Among others, Commerce and Transport Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Chief Secretary AP Padhi, Development Commissioner R Balkrishnan and department Secretary Sanjay Rastogi were present.