Brace up for Park and Ride

Brace up for Park and Ride
By S Praveen Dhaneshkar, & Hemanth C S, H News Service, Bangalore:
If you are wondering what a TTMC is, its what the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation has decided to call its futuristic bus stations.

In the not so distant future, you can leave your home in your car/two-wheeler, drive into the neighbourhood TTMC (Traffic Transit Management Centre), board a bus and head towards your destination.
If you are wondering what a TTMC is, it’s what the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation has decided to call its futuristic bus stations.
Deciding to give a swanky look to existing bus stations by remodelling them and constructing new bus terminals in other areas, the BMTC will utilise Rs 365 crore from a whopping Rs 3,000 crore transport infrastructure package granted to it under the JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) to improve infrastructure of bus stations and give them a 21st century look.
BMTC Managing Director Upendra Tripathy told Deccan Herald “The TTMC concept is unique in India, but popular in developed nations. It involves construction of swanky bus stations with an ambience reflecting a global feel. These stations will have a ‘Park and Ride’ facility for people to drive in, leave their cars/two-wheelers, board a bus and head for office. The idea is to offer facilities so as to decongest chock-a-block traffic. We would also ply mini buses/shuttle services from every major residential area to the nearest TTMC so that commuters could board a bus of their choice”.
It’s not just that. The TTMC would also house a multi-level parking lot, public utilities like mini-shopping centres, food courts, Bangalore One kiosks, ATMs et al.
Mr Tripathy adds this would enable office goers to board the bus in the mornings and arrive back in the evenings, complete their shopping needs and head home.
While BMTC has planned to construct 45 TTMCs in all, DPRs (Detailed Project Reports) for only ten have been prepared for availing JNNURM funds. “Of these ten, five were sent to the Ministry of Urban Development (MUD), New Delhi, and one was approved for sanction of funds, while four are pending with Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (KUIDFC)” Mr Tripathy said.
The Urban Development Department that approved the TTMC at Jayanagar, to be constructed at a cost of Rs nine crore, has already made headway.
“Construction of the project has already begun and would be completed in 15 months time, while other TTMCs will be taken up on priority basis once approved by the MUD,” explain BMTC officials.

DPRs in appraisal
Four DPRs which are in appraisal stage at the centre are for TTMCs in Bannerghatta, Kengeri, Domlur and Yeshwantpur. Five (Koramangala, Vijayanagar, ITPL, Banashankari and Shantinagar) are being reviewed by the KUIDFC. The DPRs have been prepared by IDeCK (Infrastructure Development Corporation of Karnataka) and Sundaram Architects.
KUIDFC Managing Director Jawed Akthar said, “The DPRs would be appraised by us, before being sent to the Urban Development Ministry. The TTMCs that form part of improving urban transport infrastructure under JNNURM has been included in the Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Survey (CTTS) that is in its final stages. It would be submitted to the Centre shortly”.
The CTTS, once approved would serve as a guide to all stakeholders, viz BMTC, BDA, BBMP and Bangalore City Police.
The final draft of the CTTS is currently being prepared by RITES after KUIDFC suggested modifications to incorporate the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) and metro rail alignments, added sources in RITES.