Charichhak: While the earlier BJD government had introduced the “Laxmi Bus” or “Mukhyamantri Bus Seva” to ensure affordable transport from rural areas to block headquarters across the state, residents of Sorava and Isanpur panchayats in Puri district’s Gop block remain deprived of this facility. Allegations suggest that more than 30 villages in these two panchayats are yet to benefit from the service.
To address this, villagers from the affected areas, under the banner of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), submitted a written demand letter to Gop Block Development Officer (BDO) Chabirani Das, appealing to the Puri District Collector for immediate action to start Laxmi Bus services in the region.
Residents pointed out that people from Sorava and Isanpur have to travel over 20 kilometers on foot or by other means to reach the Gop block office for various administrative tasks, often facing severe inconvenience and missing deadlines, thus getting deprived of essential services.
The proposed bus route would cover Panichhatra, Isanpur Panchayat, Sorava Panchayat, Jahnimali Haat, Surei, Tiruna, Sirei, Panchana, Palli Chhak, and Birbhunga, ultimately reaching the Gop block headquarters. AAP workers claim this route would greatly benefit local residents.
More than 25 villages, including Surei, Banahara, Sorava, Durgapur, Muruda, Panchana, Otanka, and Aingola, have jointly demanded the immediate implementation of the Laxmi Bus service. AAP Puri District Vice President Rabindranath Sahu, Bhagabata Behera, Zone 14 President Ramesh Chandra Mohanty, Ramakanu Swain, Prakash Mallik, and over 500 villagers have declared that if their demand is not met soon, they will be compelled to take to the streets in protest.