City on road to transportation facelift

BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is all set to put transportation sector development of the Capital on fast-track.  The urban body will undertake a major project to improve the sector in the fast-developing city. This will be one of the biggest projects of the BDA.   The Integrated Comprehensive Mobility Plan (I-CMP) aims at overall development of inter and intra-city linkages. Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and Konark have been identified as project areas. The BDA has already floated tender inviting consultants for the project. The project has both short and long-term goals. The main objective will be to develop the transport system in tune with the burgeoning population. The present transportation system will be given a major facelift by incorporating necessary changes.  ‘’We are also keeping in mind the Nabakalebar that will take place in Puri in 2015. A massive influx of tourists during that time has to be managed and we should be prepared for it,’’ said BDA member (Planning) PK Pattnaik. The works at all four places will start simultaneously. Factors like making the cities pollution- free and transforming them into a world- class urban centres will be kept in mind. The project will be completed in a year of signing of agreement. Though the project is yet to be budgeted,  annual turnover of bidders must be more than ` 10 crore each during the last five fiscals, sources said. The bidders will be submitting their applications on February 28.   The State also has to meet the requirements under the National Urban Transport Policy which clearly states the need to incorporate urban transportation at planning stage and encourage transport planning in all cities.