Sambalpur’s government bus stand is transformed into a flea market during the day & an anti-social party at night

Sambalpur’s historic government bus stand is transformed into a flea market during the day and an anti-social party at night. Commuters do not feel safe. Apart from this, the public is suffering due to a lack of basic facilities such as toilets, restrooms, drinking water, etc. at government bus stations. Currently, the district administration, the metropolitan corporation, and the relevant departments are showing indifference.

People throng to buy vegetables from early morning till mid-afternoon. There is a liquor shop and drugs are also found in the streets. At any time of the day, people can be seen standing on the road connecting to the bus stand and smoking. In the evening, the number of such people increases. It is seen that travelers come and get down in the dark of night and are afraid to go home. The violence of drug addicts and antisocial people is increasing. Women are facing many problems due to lack of toilet facilities.

Manoj Kumar Patnaik, a passenger traveling from Sampati Sambalpur to Phulbani, expressed his concern about the remoteness of the government bus stand. The concerned passenger waited at this bus stand for about two hours for the bus going from Sambalpur to Phulbani. Here the ticket counter of OSRTC is being operated in an unsanitary environment. There is no seating for passengers at the bus station. He mentioned that there is no toilet. All the facilities normally found in government bus stations are not available here. He demanded that the district administration take immediate action after realizing the seriousness of the situation.

At the same time, hundreds of ordinary, express buses were going to different districts and states from the Sambalpur government bus station and through the bus station. Those who come from distant places stay overnight in the bus stand area are not feel safe in this area because of drug addicts day and night. Bus service to the government bus station has also been restricted. It has been reported that 20 to 25 buses are plying daily along with express buses and air-conditioned buses.

According to the information, the Sambalpur bus stand was started near Lakshmi Takies Street till the 1950s. First, the buses were parked under the trees and then the office was built. Later on August 15, 1968, the present government bus station was inaugurated.