Dhenkanal Awaits Online Transport Revolution
Priya Yadav | IIMC Dhenkanal | Sep 25, 2025, 16:04 IST
Dhenkanal Bus Stand
Dhenkanal in Odisha has strong bus connectivity to major cities like Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, with 100–200 buses running daily. However, the district lacks access to online transport services like Uber, Ola, or RedBus for most routes. While government buses under the Mukhyamantri Bus Seva scheme connect rural areas, they cannot be booked online. Locals rely heavily on traditional bus services, but the absence of digital booking and real-time updates makes travel less convenient. Despite good physical infrastructure, Dhenkanal’s public transport is yet to join the Digital India movement.
In the heart of Odisha, Dhenkanal presents a unique contrast—while its roads are busy and well-connected, its transport services have yet to catch up with the digital revolution. The district sees around 100 to 200 buses running daily to and from major cities like Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, forming the backbone of local commuting. Yet, services like Uber, Ola, or Rapido are still out of reach for its residents.
At the bustling Dhenkanal bus stand, Arun Pradhan, who runs a small paan shop nearby, says the town runs on buses. “Private and government buses are lifelines for the people here. Without them, it’s hard to imagine daily life,” he said. But when it comes to online booking or app-based services, there’s little to speak of.
According to Dipil Mishra, supervisor at the Dhenkanal bus stand, the state government’s Mukhyamantri Bus Seva has introduced nine buses to connect rural panchayats. “These buses help people from remote areas reach the town, but you still can’t book them online. Only a few private operators are on platforms like RedBus,” he said.
For many locals, this traditional, offline system still works. Regular commuters feel the network is reliable enough for their needs. However, the lack of digital options—such as real-time tracking, mobile booking, and app-based services—limits convenience, especially for younger passengers and visitors.
As India continues to push forward under the Digital India mission, towns like Dhenkanal show that while physical connectivity is strong, digital connectivity in public transport still lags behind. The buses are moving, the roads are busy—but the journey toward a digitally integrated transport system is still waiting to begin.
At the bustling Dhenkanal bus stand, Arun Pradhan, who runs a small paan shop nearby, says the town runs on buses. “Private and government buses are lifelines for the people here. Without them, it’s hard to imagine daily life,” he said. But when it comes to online booking or app-based services, there’s little to speak of.
According to Dipil Mishra, supervisor at the Dhenkanal bus stand, the state government’s Mukhyamantri Bus Seva has introduced nine buses to connect rural panchayats. “These buses help people from remote areas reach the town, but you still can’t book them online. Only a few private operators are on platforms like RedBus,” he said.
For many locals, this traditional, offline system still works. Regular commuters feel the network is reliable enough for their needs. However, the lack of digital options—such as real-time tracking, mobile booking, and app-based services—limits convenience, especially for younger passengers and visitors.
As India continues to push forward under the Digital India mission, towns like Dhenkanal show that while physical connectivity is strong, digital connectivity in public transport still lags behind. The buses are moving, the roads are busy—but the journey toward a digitally integrated transport system is still waiting to begin.