BMTC largesse for facelift to old bus-stands in City

BMTC largesse for facelift to old bus-stands in City

Deccan Herald

The IDCR has already formulated a conceptual design for the ambitious project.



Some of Bangalore’s old-fashioned bus stations are about to get a much-needed facelift. Thanks to the new-age look being modelled for six of the city’s busiest bus stands, waiting for a bus could well become the most exciting part of the journey.

An elevated parking lot for commuters to drive in, closed circuit televisions for free entertainment, friendly counters to issue daily and monthly passes, a little chai-nashta on the side - all this are in the offing at the bus stations at Kengeri, Gunjur Palya, Bannerghatta, Banashankari III Stage, Jayanagar IX Block and Hebbal. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is planning to build hi-tech bus stations at these six crowded junctions at a cost of Rs 16 crore.

At the Volvo depot being planned at Shantinagar, commuters can even catch up with some last-minute shopping. The depot, to be built at a cost of Rs 5 crore, will house a commercial complex.


Allocations

These allocations come following BMTC’s plan to increase its existing fleet by another 500 buses by October this year, followed by another 25 Volvos in December.

While bus stations at Bannerghatta, Banashankari and Jayanagar have been allocated Rs 2 crore each for development, the BMTC will invest Rs 5 crore in the construction of a depot and bus station at Kengeri.

An infrastructure overhaul is being planned at Gunjur Palya at a cost of Rs 3 crore.

The bus stations are expected to be completed within a year. Tenders have already been floated, and work is likely to commence within three months, revealed Managing Director of BMTC Upendra Tripathi.

A conceptual design has already been drawn by the Infrastructure Development Corporation of Karnataka (IDCR).

The Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation has agreed to extend 50 per cent loan assistance towards the project, Tripathi added.