Transport hub to be a reality in 2007?

Transport hub to be a reality in 2007?
Vijay Times

The dream of Bangalore having one of the largest and most modern transport hub in Asia at Majestic (Subash Nagar Bus Terminus) could be reality next year as state owned, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is in the process of selecting one among five consortia who had submitted their tender bids soon.

Conceptualised as a futuristic dream project of KSRTC, the idea behind the project is to integrate bus, metro and train services under one roof and create world class transport infrastructure for the City.

Estimated to cost between Rs 700 to 1000 crore, KSRTC received responses from over 25 consortia which submitted their expression of interest in developing the project on a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) basis. The bidders were selected after global tenders for pre-qualification procedure inviting Expressions of Interest were called for.

The selected construction groups involving global construction majors such as Reliance, Zurong, Siemens and Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) have already submitted the conceptual design of the project.

A P Joshi, managing director, KSRTC told , that announcement of a bidder is in its final stages. "An outcome on the project could be expected in about two months" Joshi said.

The project construction would coincide with that of the Metro Rail project in March/April 2007 says Jagadeesh Chandra, chief civil engineer, KSRTC.

Authorities have already held discussions with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) as well Indian Railways to co-ordinate the plan as the mega project will house all the three modes of transport.

Major construction conglomerates such as Jurong from Singapore, Larsen and Toubro, Mantri Developers, H M S Construction, Shirke Construction, Prestige Group, Gammon India, Soma Construction and Classic Group among others had initially taken the bid documents.

The re-modelled bus terminus is planned to be buil istic landmark of the City with a multi-storey tow of commercial space, underground bus terminus, par ities for 5,000 cars and 10,000 two-wheelers, tunn for the pedestrian, a terrace helipad, star hotels atre, shopping centres, food courts, browsing rooms and other public utilities.