The Naveen Patnaik government has announced the launch of a scheme called Location Accessible Multi-model Initiative (LAccMI) to provide bus connectivity to all the gram panchayats of the state.

Women’s self-help groups will be engaged in various operations and maintenance-related activities of the buses at the block level.

Under this scheme, the state will spend Rs 3,178 crore in the first three years of bus operations from 2023-24 to 2025-26. The tenure of the scheme would be 10 years, which can be extended by another two years. Based on the performance of the bus service, the tenure might be extended later.

About 1,000 buses will be deployed under the scheme to give connectivity to the gram panchayats. The proposal received the nod of the state cabinet, presided over by the chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday. “It will establish a seamless public transport network across the state from the gram panchayat-level up to the state capital to provide reliable and affordable services,” an official said.

Under the LAccMI scheme, steps would be taken to ensure connectivity between gram panchayats and respective block headquarters and then from the blocks to their respective district headquarters under the district connectivity programme.

The Patnaik government has decided to ply a “Jagannath Express”, connecting the district headquarters to Bhubaneswar or Puri under the scheme. Besides, the LAccMI Express would provide connectivity to district headquarters and major cities.

Aware of the fact that women power would play a pivotal role during the election, the state government said women would be encouraged to participate actively in the work. “Mission Shakti Self Help Group will be engaged in various operation and maintenance-related activities within the blocks,” it said.

The state government said that in Odisha, although road infrastructure has improved, corresponding public transportation is yet to take off. Accordingly, the state government has proposed to provide reliable and affordable public transport across the state, focusing on the rural areas.