Transit centres planned for city

Transit centres planned for city
Bus terminals with amenities are being planned across the city to put in place a well-networked public transport system, says Leena Mudbidri


The public transport system in the city will get a fillip with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) floating 45 'transit centres'. These Traffic Transit Management Centres (TTMC) will also contribute towards easing the traffic congestion and encouraging people to take the bus to work. The whole idea is to make commuters park their vehicles at these TTMC parking lots and take the bus to work.
Also, this will not only decongest roads, but also reduce air pollution from vehicular effluents, mitigate high incidence of road accidents and make commuting a pleasure.
TTMC locations
Construction work on these projects is being phased out on a priority basis. Phase One of the project is underway with 10 TTMCs coming up in prime neighbourhoods. Eleven TTMCs have been planned in Phase Two of the project.
Of the 10 TTMCs in Phase One, eight have already been approved under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
These eight projects are coming up at:
Jayanagar IV Block Banashankari Vijaynagar Koramangala Shantinagar ITPL Bannerghatta Kengeri
Construction of the Jayanagar TTMC which was awarded to the Land Army Corporation is already under progress. The foundation stone for the Vijaynagar TTMC was laid a few weeks ago and construction would start as soon as the tendering process is over. Once this TTMC is completed, in the next couple of years residents around this neighbourhood can park their vehicles in this TTMC and take the bus to the workplace. Spread across 3.37 acres of land adjacent to Chord Road, this plush building will have a basement and seven floors. The basement will house the bus maintenance depot, the ground floor will have the bus station, and the next three floors will be allocated for parking of 500 cars and 250 two-wheelers.
Two TTMCs in Domlur and Yeshwantpur are awaiting approval.
JNNURM priority
According to Upendra Tripathy, BMTC's managing director, Bangalore was the only city in the country to get an approval from the JNNURM to fund a public transport system. It is a shot in the arm for the Corporation as Bangalore has got precedence over other cities.
Chief civil engineer, BMTC, M Dilip adds that the main objective of these projects is to gradually shift the use of private transport to the public transport system which will be well networked to make commuting convenient for passengers.
What they offer
Apart from a well-oiled network of bus facilities to every corner of the city, each TTMC will provide 27 facilities under one roof. Each of these bus terminals will offer large multi-level parking lots, and public facilities such as medical shops, bill payment offices for the easy payment of water, electricity, phone bills and taxes, and passenger amenity centre.
Each passenger amenity centre will house departmental stores, ATM kiosks, medical shops, passenger counters, BMTC offices on the top floors and other public amenities. Underpasses have been planned in Yeshwanthpur to make it easier for people to access the terminal.
The fare and tariff for passes will be fixed once the groundwork has been completed.
Budget estimate
The approved cost of Phase One of the project totals to Rs 256 crores. Of this, the Government of India will bear 35 percent, Government of Karnataka 15 percent while BMTC will fund 50 percent.
For Phase Two (two centres - Domlur and Yeshwanthpur), the approved total cost is Rs 78 crores where the Government of India will bear 35 percent, Government of Karnataka 15 percent and BMTC 50 percent.