New Govt-KSRTC bus terminal at Bannanje for Udupi travellers

Mangalore Today News Network

 Udupi, Nov 8, 2014:  Udupi  an inportant and popular temple town, pilgrim resort and educational centre  does not as yet  have a Govt-KSRTC Bus Terminal. Presently, the KSRTC Bus Stand functions from a small area given to it at a complex loaned by CMC in the heart of the city - thats the bad news. For the good news now,  the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) has drawn up final plans for the construction of the new Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Bus terminal at Bannaje here.

Not less than 220 scheduled  buses services transit Udupi daily, while 25 buses originate from the city. The small bus stand in the IDSMT complex is congested. Not more than four buses can be parked there at a time. There is no rest room for drivers and the Traffic Controller’s small office serves as the ticket booking centre as well.

Spacious plots are earmarked at Bannanje on the Udupi-Manipal Road for the KSRTC Bus Stand. The process of handing over the land by the Department of Public Works Development (PWD) to the KSRTC will complete soon. PWD Minister H.C. Mahadevappa is to visit the spot by November 15, according to Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA.

Expecting  the handover of the land, the CMC has drawn up a blueprint for the new KSRTC bus stand. As per the blueprint, the new bus terminal will have 20 platforms. 20 buses do not park at a time normally, provosion is in place for the future,  CMC Commissioner Srikanth Rao stated.

Restaurants, shoping complex , cloak rooms, ticket reservation counters  and a drivers’ rest room apart from other essentials. There will be an auto-rickshaw parking facility for 40 auto-rickshaws and a parking for private vehicles.

A few trees and landscaping would be done at the two ends of the bus stand. The construction is estimated to cost Rs. 3 crore. “In fact, our blueprint has been designed to take care of all needs till 2030. We will submit our blueprint whenever it is sought,” Mr. Rao informed. Also,  the KSRTC Bus Terminal at Bannanje,  would reduce traffic congestion both at the present KSRTC Bus Stand and also the city centre. Hopefully things will move faster for the good of the public.