Austerity move: Transport min takes bus ride

Berhampur: State commerce and transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena took a public bus ride on Saturday night in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fuel conservation appeal amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.The minister travelled from Bhubaneswar to Berhampur in the bus of the Odisha state road transport corporation (OSRTC). During his four-hour journey in the bus, which travels from Cuttack to Gunupur in Rayagada district, he also interacted with his co-passengers.He boarded the bus around 9.30pm from Baramunda stand in Bhubaneswar and got down near Gopalpur crossing in Berhampur around 1.30am.The minister said the bus journey was very pleasant. “We have requested all to take public transports or use electric vehicles to reduce the fuel consumption,” he said.Last week, the minister had travelled from Bhubaneswar to Berhampur by an electric car after the Prime Minister’s call for fuel conservation. Soon after the Prime Minister’s appeal, Jena has announced to reduce his escort vehicle. CM Mohan Charan Majhi and several other ministers as well reduced their escort vehicles, he said.