Passengers to Get Affordable Food at Baramunda Bus Stand From December 10

Passengers to Get Affordable Food at Baramunda Bus Stand From December 10

Passengers at the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal (BSABT), popularly known as the Baramunda Bus Stand, will soon have access to affordable snacks, meals, and essential items as over 100 shops are set to open from 10th December.
 

The lottery process for shop allotment was completed in September, allowing traders to finally begin operations. According to the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), the terminal houses 124 shops on the ground floor and eight on the first floor. Traders who were previously evicted will be rehabilitated first, while remaining shops will be allotted later.

Makeshift Shops Rise Outside Terminal: With the terminal shops remaining closed for almost two years, passengers relied heavily on roadside vendors, leading to the growth of nearly 20 temporary stalls and pushcarts outside the terminal. Locals are concerned about whether these makeshift structures will be removed once the official shops become functional.

Library Area Now Empty: A small library earlier set up near the waiting area—once appreciated by passengers—now stands empty, with all the books missing. No one knows who removed them or whether it will be restored.

Shop Allotment Dispute Resolved: Confusion over the shop allotment process had earlier delayed operations. Traders from the old OSRTC bus stand were promised relocation to the new terminal, but issues arose when BDA handed the agreements and allotment to a private agency. The traders resisted, resulting in a delay of nearly 18 months.
The issue has now been settled, and traders have agreed to take the shops on a monthly rental basis, clearing the path for commercial activity inside the terminal to finally begin.