After introducing pink auto service exclusively for women in Bhubaneswar to ensure safe and hassle-free journey for them, prepaid auto rickshaw service was launched here for better convenience of the passengers of all categories on Sunday. Tourism and Culture minister Ashok Panda launched the service here near the Bhubaneswar railway station.
Initially, the service will be available at the railway station, Baramunda bus-stand and KIIT Square while more than 300 auto-rickshaws have been included in the service. The Transport and Commerce department will determine the fares between various points in the city while the Commissionerate police will manage the service. It may be mentioned that the Commissionerate police had launched the prepaid auto rickshaw service in Cuttack in 2011.
Special offices have been opened at these key places to facilitate the service to public. Officials said passengers can avail the service by depositing the amount of fare for their respective destinations in advance at these offices. In the first phase, 180 autos would be deployed at the railway station while around 80 would be available at Baramunda and 100 at KIIT Square. The service will be available 24x7 at the railway station.
Bhubaneswar (North) MlA Priyadarshi Mishra, Director General of Police Sanjeev Marik, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissioner of Police RP Sharma and members of city auto rickshaw association were present during the launching ceremony. More than 300 auto rickshaws have been included in the service.