Odisha govt seeks Rs 510 cr from AFD for BRTS

Odisha government plans to set up Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in Bhubaneswar at a cost of almost Rs 570 crore including development of dedicated bus corridors, akin to railways. As part of the project, the state government plans to set up six dedicated routes (closed model), covering nearly 50 km, where only buses would be allowed to ply. The state government is seeking Rs 510 crore financial assistance for the project from the France-based financial institution Agence Francaise de Development (AFD). In this regard, senior state government officials are scheduled to meet a delegation of AFD soon to finalize details of allocation of loans. AFD provides loans to developed nations. During the meeting, the delegation would discuss with the housing and urban development department and officers of BMC (Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation) and Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) on the financial assistance. Though the state government announced BRTS project in 2010, it made little headway because of lack of funds. Meanwhile, the government is wary of space constraints and is planning to draw up 'partially closed' model in which the corridor can also be opened for some other vehicles. The BRTS is a runaway success in Ahmedabad.