After a huge gap of 15 years, bus service resumed on Sunday on a route in Chhattisgarh’s Naxal dominated Bijapur district on the 75th Independence Day. The resumption of the bus service comes as a relief to local people deprived of the facility due to Maoist activities.
Congress MLA and Parliamentary Secretary Shishupal Sori flagged off the Gangaloor village-bound bus from Bijapur. “The resumption of bus service is a great relief for locals, particularly women, children, and ailing persons. People will also have access to better education and health services now,” the village sarpanch said.
Inspector-General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said that the bus service on this route remained suspended for the last 15 years due to Maoist activities in the area. “A road already exists on this route and its widening was done under the protection of security forces. Camps of security forces, including one of CRPF’s 85th battalion, are set up on the Bijapur-Gangaloor route,” he further said.
Road construction is going on to further connect Gangaloor with Mirtur village which is connected to Bhairamgarh town in Bijapur. This 30-Km long Gangaloor-Mirtur stretch passes through the Maoist stronghold. The IG said that the road connectivity would help villagers, mostly tribals to avail themselves of the benefits of various schemes of the state government.
