Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 27: Traffic congestion in the city has been increasing year after year, primarily due to the daily movement of over 2,500 buses. To address this growing problem, there is a pressing need for a well-equipped bus terminal on the outskirts of the city. However, despite Mangaluru being designated as a ‘Smart City’, the dream of a modern bus terminal continues to remain a mirage.
At present, the private bus stand located near State Bank occupies a hockey ground. What began as a temporary arrangement has remained in place for nearly four decades and needs to be relocated. With the intention of constructing a bus terminal at Pumpwell, the Mangaluru City Corporation had acquired 7 acres and 23.5 cents of land alongside National Highway 66 in 2008.
Land for the proposed bus terminal at Pumpwell (file photo)
Under the Smart City project, a plan was drawn up to construct a centralised and integrated bus terminal at this location to accommodate city buses, intercity, inter-district and interstate services. The proposal included passenger-friendly amenities, ample parking space for buses, hospitality facilities, a multi-storey car parking complex and commercial outlets. The Rs 445-crore project was planned under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model with private participation.
However, despite floating tenders three times, no private firm showed interest in implementing the project. Officials of Smart City Limited said that the project has not been completely shelved and that efforts are now underway to implement it with modifications to the original design.
Smart City Limited managing director Santosh Kumar G stated that most of the Smart City project works have been completed and that there is a possibility of implementing the Pumpwell bus terminal under the Smart City scheme.
Corporation officials pointed out that even if the Pumpwell terminal is constructed, buses coming from the Nanthoor side towards Pumpwell would require an underpass on National Highway 66 to enter the terminal. If the government provides funds for the construction of such an underpass, there is a likelihood of private investment in the terminal, they said.
During peak hours, vehicles often remain stranded for hours at key junctions such as Hampankatta, Ambedkar Circle, Balmatta Junction, Kankanady Junction and Pumpwell Junction. Whether the government will allocate funds for a bus terminal, which can play a major role in easing traffic congestion, in the upcoming budget remains to be seen.
KSRTC Mangaluru divisional controller Rajesh Shetty said that constructing a fully equipped bus terminal at Pumpwell for private city buses and KSRTC buses is essential to reduce traffic congestion in the city. This would prevent buses coming from Udupi, Kasargod, Puttur and Dharmasthala from entering the city limits, he said.
He further added that under the PM e-Bus scheme, 100 electric buses have been sanctioned for the city, along with 50 electric buses from the state government, and their operations are expected to begin by June. Construction of a terminal at Pumpwell would help prevent an increase in traffic congestion, he said.