BMP plans to hoodwink public again in the name of multi-storeyed parking lots

Kalasipalayam bus station may make way for complex

The Hindu

BMP wants mall to be public-private partnership project to boost revenue

# KSRTC to continue to operate some of its inter-State services from Kalasipalayam
# First floor to be earmarked for parking, second floor for shops and the third floor for offices
# Private partner will lease the commercial space for 36 years and is expected to invest Rs 23.52 crores
# BMP likely to get Rs 1.3 crore every year
# The KG Road multi-level parking complex likely to be opened this month

BANGALORE: With part of the bus operations from Kalasipalayam shifting to the new bus station at Shantinagar, plans are on to convert the old bus stand area into a large commercial complex.

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike expects it to be another public-private partnership to boost its revenues.

The project closely follows similar ones such as the Garuda Mall and Malleswaram Market.

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation will continue to operate some of its inter-State bus services with the terminal and passenger lounge occupying part of the ground floor. The BMP has plans to build bus bays on the ground floor and the passenger lounge on a mezzanine floor, together covering about 39,000 sq. m.

The first floor will be earmarked for parking, the second floor for shops and the third floor for offices.

The private partner, when selected, will lease the commercial space for 36 years and is expected to invest Rs 23.52 crores to complete the project in about two years. The cost of constructing the bus terminal itself will be about Rs 8.8 crores. The civic body expects to earn a revenue of Rs 1.30 crore a year with no taxpayers' money invested.

Parking space

Not all citizens are happy with the joint venture developments so far taken up by the BMP. Many like what is now Garuda Mall with multi-storey parking lots with limited use for commercial purposes.

When the paid parking system was scrapped, the reason given was that the multi level parking lots that will come up will provide secure parking space at a price, while the parking space on the road could be used for short duration. Garuda Mall itself was to have public parking space for 500 cars. Another commercial and parking complex on Kempegowda Road is yet to be opened for public use.

According to BMP officials, these complexes can be given for public parking with an automated pay and park system, but the financial and technical implications are still being worked out. The KG Road multi level parking complex is likely to be opened this month and will have space for 400 cars, they said.