Tuesday, July 07, 2009

That evasive bus stand in K R Market

That evasive bus stand in K R Market


Buses parked haphazardly at the city market
Express News Service First Published : 06 Jul 2009 08:01:01 AM IST
BANGALORE: BMTC is constructing several high-end traffic and transit management centres (TTMCs) in the city, even on the outskirts, while one of the busiest areas of Bangalore - the K R Market - still waits for a simple bus station.
BMTC operates over 5,000 schedules from here daily. Considering the huge demand, BMTC requires five acres of land to construct a bus station that can take care of all the bus movements and passenger requirements there, said chief engineer (projects) of BMTC, T K Palanetra Naik.
Unavailability of land major setback
“We understand that such a huge piece of land may not be available and hence, two smaller stations can be constructed. One opposite the Chandra Bhavan Lodge (next to the Jumma Masjid) and the other in Kalasipalyam near the private bus stand," he said.
“Two bus stations will also help BMTC’s new scheme of direction-oriented bus services.
Buses bound towards Kanakapura, Mysore Road, Hosur, Vijayanagar and other places will operate from Kalasipalyam bus station and the ones towards Hebbal and K R Puram will operate from the Chandra Bhavan side,” Naik said.
BMTC is also looking at vertical growth as a potential solution to the land problem.
“We can construct multi-level bus stations, which can be approached through ramps at grade. Ramps would require only 30 per cent of the land needed for the station. We can construct two smaller stations for which we will require a minimum of one acre land near Chandra Bhavan and 2.5 acres in Kalasipalyam,” Naik said.
Integration with flyover
“We have a plan to construct a multi-level station near Chandra Bhavan and to integrate the structure with the market flyover.
The upper level of the station can be accessed from the flyover,” Naik said.
Ownership
BMTC is unable to move ahead with the plans as it doesn't own any land in the market.
BBMP owns land identified (not formally) to construct bus stations and a part of it is encroached upon by individuals.
“We have been given to understand that BBMP owns sufficient land in the area for bus stations,” said another senior BMTC official.
“BMTC is very keen on having a bus station in the market area as it is a business hub and the bus station will be financially viable. It will also ease traffic congestion in the area. We operate lot of buses from market and the slow movement of traffic implies loss of revenue for us due to missed trips, more expenses on fuel and crew,” he added.
Over two years ago, BMTC had requested the government to make a policy that the BDA makes provision for a bus terminal and depot in every layout that it forms.
BBMP engineer-in-chief A K Gopalaswamy, indicated that there were no specific plans for a bus station in the market. However, he said, “BBMP is going to construct 300 bus shelters and bus bays across the city.
We will work closely with BMTC on this project. We will ask the BMTC to identify locations where bus shelters are needed and based on that we will go ahead.”

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