Buses to Odisha on NH-220 halted, 20 km detour causes inconvenience

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, August 18: The complete damage of 3.8 km stretch of National highway from Chakradharpur to Odisha border (Nitir) has resulted in bus operations on this route being stopped. As a result, these buses are taking a detour of 20 km causing significant inconvenience to passengers. Around 60 buses that used to run daily on this route have been affected. A villager remarked, “Despite multiple complaints, no action has been taken. This negligence has caused immense difficulties for the locals.”

According to local sources the road leading from Bandlaite village to the Odisha border, a critical route for travellers, had deteriorated so much that even walking on it was difficult. The road construction work was completed in 2021, but due to substandard work by the contractor, the road was damaged within a year. Despite repeated complaints, no steps had been taken to repair the road.

For the past 15 days, buses traveling to Odisha have been rerouted 20 km via an alternative route, causing delays and discomfort to passengers. Due to this, both travellers and transport operators are facing challenges. A passenger said, “The detour to reach Odisha via this damaged route is frustrating. Authorities must repair the road quickly.”

Sidhi Pandey, Roadways Operator said, “Since August ‘23, this problem has been persisting.  We request immediate repair work to alleviate the suffering of the passengers.”

The district administration had been informed about the issue, and residents were demanding urgent intervention to repair the damaged 3.8 km stretch and restore normal bus services.