Housing and Environment Minister Rajesh Munat has asked officials to develop an action plan for a bus transit system. The Raipur bus transit system should comprise a plan to connect the Raipur bus stand and Airport with Naya Raipur, he said, while chairing a meeting to review progress of work of Raipur Development Authority (RDA) here.
He said that officials should earmark land for development of a new Transport Colony. Munat also directed officials to initiate action against people residing illegally in RDA colonies in Hirapur, Sarona, Boriyakhurd and Raipura. He said that the responsibility of ensuring supply of pure drinking water to the residents of RDA colony in Hirapur rests with RDA.
The State Government has also created ‘Urban Traffic Fund’ and the management of the same will be in the hands of respective PTS in the State. The money in the fund will be provided from the interest received by concerned Municipal Corporation on the funds received for development works. Raipur received a fund of Rs20 lakh, Durg-Bhilai Rs25 lakh, Bilaspur Rs20 lakh while Rajnandgaon, Korba, Raigarh, Ambikapur, Chirmiri and Jagdalpur have been allocated Rs15 lakh each, officials stated.
From the fund, expenses like stationary, electricity, telephone expenses etc will be met. However, the salary of the officers and employees will be paid by the concerned Municipal Corporation. This apart, the State Government has floated ‘Naya Raipur Mass Transport Company’ for ensuring proper management of public transport system in the State’s new administrative capital, officials said.
Naya Raipur would have 10 bus shelters and a depot. The buses would be operated with a automated mechanism and ticket services would be offered in line with the metros. The World Bank has extended support to Rs179 crore ‘Bus Rapid Transit System’ (BRTS) project currently under implementation which will have 40 air-conditioned buses plying between Raipur and Naya Raipur, officials stated.