Raipur: There is welcome news for thousands of officers and employees working in the government secretariat (Mantralaya) and various departmental offices located in Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The state government has approved a six-month extension for the city bus service. This eliminates the possibility of the service being discontinued from November 1, 2026, ensuring that employees continue to have access to transportation for their daily commute.
The existing contract for the city bus service—operated under the Raipur Municipal Corporation Transport Limited—was set to expire on October 31, 2026. Following this, a notice had been issued instructing employees to make their own commuting arrangements. Given that the ‘e-office’ system and biometric attendance are mandatory at the secretariat, the potential discontinuation of the bus service would have not only caused significant hardship for the staff but also risked disrupting government operations.
In light of this, Chandrakant Pandey, President of the Chhattisgarh Secretariat Employees’ Union, wrote to the Chief Secretary requesting the continuation of the bus service. Following the union’s efforts, the General Administration Department issued an order to extend the service.
According to the order, the Naya Raipur Atal Nagar Development Authority (NRDA) has been authorized to extend the bus operation contract—either until a new tender process is completed and a new system is in place, or for a maximum period of six months, whichever comes first. Furthermore, a monthly rate of ₹3,066 per bus pass has been approved for the period from November 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027.
Emphasis on Bus Safety and Quality
The government has also issued directives to ensure the quality of the bus service and the safety of passengers. This includes regular technical inspections of the buses. Provisions have been made to promptly replace any faulty buses with functional ones, and it has been mandated that drivers and conductors undergo regular health check-ups.
Secretariat officers and employees have expressed relief at the extension of the bus service. The employees’ union has described this as a significant step taken in the interest and for the convenience of the staff.
