Dibrugarh: In a move aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving road safety, the Dibrugarh District Administration has ordered the shifting of the city’s Bus and Traveller Stand to the Murlidhar Jalan Bus Terminus (MJBT) with effect from June 19. The order issued by District Commissioner Bikram Kairi on Tuesday marks a turning point for the bus terminal that largely sat idle since its construction nearly two decades ago.The MJBT, situated alongside the AT Road (NH-37) near the Convoy Road Flyover on the city’s outskirts, has long been an underutilised asset. Despite being purpose-built to serve as Dibrugarh’s main bus hub, the majority of buses have historically bypassed the terminus, preferring to stop within the city itself, much to the frustration of planners and commuters alike. Notably, the MJBT enjoys a strategic locational advantage as it lies in close proximity to the Dibrugarh Railway Station at Banipur, making it a potentially convenient interchange point for passengers arriving or departing by train.The immediate trigger for the administration’s decision is the upcoming construction of the Amolapatty Junction Flyover. The Executive Engineer of the Public Works (Roads) Department, Dibrugarh, formally flagged concerns that the flyover project would intensify traffic congestion within the city during the construction phase and could also raise the risk of road accidents, given that the proposed service road would be suitable only for light motor vehicles and two-wheelers. The department accordingly sought restrictions on the entry of heavy motor vehicles into the city.Compounding the concern is the ongoing construction of the Mancotta Road Flyover, which has already considerably reduced the movement of heavy vehicles in and out of Dibrugarh.A meeting of the Regional Transport Authority convened on June 10 reviewed the Supreme Court’s recent directions on road safety, the traffic impact of the Mancotta Flyover and the Amolapatty Junction Flyover project. The meeting unanimously resolved that the movement of buses and travellers within the city needed immediate regulation. The administration also noted that existing bus stops within the city are located directly on the State Highway passing through the city, with no dedicated space beyond the carriageway, posing persistent safety hazards.DC Bikram Kairi said the decision was driven by both immediate compulsions and long-term planning. “With two major infrastructure projects underway simultaneously, allowing heavy vehicles and buses to continue operating within the city would be both dangerous and unmanageable. The MJBT has the capacity and the location to serve as an efficient transit hub, and this is the right time to put it to full use,” he said.Under the order, no buses will be permitted to enter the city beyond the MJBT, though school and college buses are exempt from the restriction. A joint team of the Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation, the District Transport Office and the Traffic Branch of Dibrugarh Police will assess readiness and oversee a smooth transition before the June 19 deadline.Dibrugarh Traffic Police will issue a dedicated route map and traffic advisory for buses and travellers, while the District Transport Officer has been directed to arrange adequate feeder services at MJBT to ensure last-mile connectivity for passengers. Strict compliance has been mandated, and violations will be punishable under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
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