By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 13, 2023: The Odisha government on Thursday rolled out the ‘Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative’ (), a forward-looking public transportation system connecting gram panchayats to the State capital, part of a series of populist initiatives being launched in the run-up to next year’s elections.

As many 36 buses will connect 111 gram panchayats in Malkangiri district, many of which are the remotest of remote in the country.

Malkangiri has been chosen to commence the project as two previous welfare projects – Rs one per one kg rice and Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojna – launched from the district had turned out to be hugely successful, helping to increase Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s popularity among people.

Mission Shakti Self Help Group (SHGs) will be engaged in various operation and maintenance-related activities within the blocks in the first phase of LAccMI bus services, which will be implemented in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts.

The government plans to spend Rs 3,178 crore in the first three years of the bus operation from 2023-24 to 2025-26. As many as 1000 buses would ply connecting interior pockets with urban centres.

The State government has announced several populist programmes in the past eight days in a bid to woo different sections of society.

Naveen on October 7 approved a Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Bhubaneswar Metro Project, the State’s single largest urban infrastructure project. The State government will bear the Entire cost of the project. On the same day, Naveen announced special incentives of Rs 2500 per unit for betel and kewda farmers under the Chief Minister’s Agriculture Industries Yojna. Besides, they will be entitled to additional assistance under the State Horticulture Mission.

The biggest populist programme is the Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha (AONO), under which all 6794 panchayats in the State will receive Rs 50 lakh each. The BJD president and chief minister on October 10 approved Rs 148.50 crore for 297 gram panchayats coming under six assembly constituencies of Keonjhar district and Rs 109 crore for 218 gram panchayats in Bhadrak district.

In the meanwhile, the BJD government expanded the Drink from Tap Mission to 13 towns which would benefit 12.30 lakh people. On October 11, the State government announced to bear Rs 528 crore towards interest for the loan which members of Woman Self Help Group would take for buying scooter.

A Special Development Council (SDC), formed to accelerate developmental works in nine tribal-dominated districts, was provided an additional ₹175 crore. This year, the SDC will have a fund to the tune of ₹351 crore. The money will be spent on the preservation of language, art, culture and heritage of the tribals.

The announcement of approval of funds for different districts is likely to be made at regular interval keeping the 2024 polls in mind. This may prove to be effective messaging that the State government was concerned about the development of all parts of the State.

Announcements are meant to deflect people’s attention from governance failures, alleges BJP