Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated bus services for five additional districts, including Ganjam, in a virtual ceremony. This initiative is part of the Location Accessible Multimodal Initiative (LAccMI) scheme. The expansion brings the total coverage to all 30 districts in the state. The new districts that will benefit from the bus services are Boudh, Nuapada, Jagatsinghpur, and Balasore. A fleet of 255 buses will connect 1,057 panchayats in these regions, benefiting over 71 lakh residents. Notably, Ganjam district will have the highest number of buses, with 130 buses serving 433 panchayats.

The LAccMI scheme was launched initially in Malkangiri district in October last year. Its objective is to establish a seamless public transport network in rural areas. With this final phase, 95% of the state’s panchayats (6,031) will be connected by 1,354 buses, benefitting approximately 3.64 crore people. The scheme underscores the government’s commitment to rural development, facilitating affordable travel for rural women to access block offices and enabling easier transportation for residents and students from rural to urban areas. The initiative is poised to drive economic growth and prosperity in villages, as per Naveen Patnaik’s vision.