Bhubaneswar, Sep 18: In a move to promote transparency and equitable access to commercial space, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) conducted a lottery on Thursday to allot 112 shops at the newly inaugurated Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bus Terminal (BSABT), Odisha’s largest transport hub.

Held at K7 Kalyan Mandap in Kalinga Vihar, the event was attended by BDA Secretary Manas Ranjan Padhi and other senior officials. The beneficiaries were shortlisted based on a comprehensive survey conducted by the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC), which previously managed the old Baramunda bus terminal.

The lottery process was notably transparent, with beneficiaries themselves drawing tokens from a glass box under official supervision. Independent Observer Purandar Nanda, General Manager of Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited, ensured fairness throughout the proceedings.

Senior BDA officials present included Additional Commissioners Snigdharani Dhal (Administration), Bhabataran Sahu (Town Planning), and Manoj Kumar Swain (Estate-II), along with Joint Commissioner (Enforcement) and Special Officer BSABT, Ranjan Kumar Jena, and Manager Itikanta Mohapatra.

The newly allotted shops come with uninterrupted power supply, water connections, and round-the-clock security. Beneficiaries are required to sign formal agreements with BDA before commencing operations.

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Dr. N. Thirumala Naik, Vice-Chairman of BDA, urged shop owners to maintain high standards of hygiene and customer service. “We request all shop owners to maintain the highest standard of cleanliness and ensure passenger-friendly services. The main focus should always remain on passenger comfort and convenience,” he stated.

Spread across 11 acres, BSABT handles over 1,500 buses and nearly 20,000 passengers daily, serving both inter-state and intra-state routes. The terminal is poised to become a cornerstone of Odisha’s public transport infrastructure and a thriving commercial hub.