LAccMI Buses Get Rousing Welcome In Chitrakonda; Maintained By WSHG Federation, They Transform The Landscape

Malkangiri: With the introduction of the ambitious LAccMI Bus service in Malkangiri district, the rural communication landscape is up for a big transformation. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flagged off the fleet of new state-of-the-art buses earlier this week which will connect the rural panchayats with blocks and the blocks with the district headquarters. While the launch has been a hit among the common people, Chitrakonda – one of the remotest areas of India is celebrating a new beginning.

As the brand new buses reached the rural hinterlands – people gathered to welcome them with flowers and decorations. All across the Panchayat, people, especially women welcomed the buses and their crew members with flowers. It was like Maa Laxmi has arrived at their villages bringing prosperity and freedom of mobility. Welcoming Maa Laxmi to their homes has always been a part of their lives and the blessings will transform their lives and unveil new opportunities.

The Government has provisioned that Mission Shakti Self Help Groups will be entrusted to in various operation and maintenance related activities for LAccMI buses in the districts. In Chitrakonda, the Gurupriya Federation will manage the day to day affairs and maintenance of the new buses. Henceforth, women who used to move from one place to another by walking or through private modes of communication will now move in buses managed by themselves.
The Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative – popularly known as LAccMI Bus service among the people will offer affordable transport service for the people in the villages. The government has fixed a nominal amount for the fare. While the Block Connectivity bus fare has been fixed from Rs 5 to Rs 30 under five different slabs of kilometers, for District Connectivity, bus fare has been fixed at Rs 10 to Rs 80 under five different kilometer slabs.

The Government has also made provision for concession for women, students and physically handicapped persons who will be charged a flat fare of Rs 5 in block connectivity busses and flat Rs 10 in District Connectivity AC buses. It means women, students and physically disabled people can move in district connectivity air conditioned buses for up to 80 kilometers with payment of just Rs 10 only.