Chandy to open KSRTC bus terminal complex on Monday

Theatres, food courts, parking lots, part of complex

The new KSRTC bus terminal complex at Thampanoor which will be inaugurated on Monday. Photo: S. Mahinsha

The Rs.65-crore modern bus terminal complex of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) that is being commissioned on Monday will be more than an alighting and boarding point for passengers. Theatres, food courts and commercial space are part of the structure.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will formally inaugurate the 12-storey complex, in the presence of Ministers and people’s representatives.

Although project officials say the complex will transform the prevailing concept of a bus station, passengers will have to wait for some more time to see the commercial hub in full swing.

Work on a culvert being undertaken as part of the City Road Improvement Project to check flooding in Thampanoor area and the work on the KSRTC yard have to be completed.

Civil works and painting work have been completed and formalities to lease out the building are in full swing, sources say.

As many as 145 cars and 250 two-wheelers can be parked in the basement, which also houses elevators and toilets.

The bus bay, passenger platform, and ticket counters are on the ground floor. Twenty-five buses can be parked at the bus bay at a time and five can be parked to allow alighting of passengers.

Trial run held

The KSRTC has conducted a trial run to finetune the entry and exit of buses from the NH. The terminal can handle 2,500 to 3,400 schedules a day. Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar will flag off the first bus service.

Most floors have commercial space, central lobby and parking facilities. The third floor will house theatres and two food courts.

A total of 339 cars, 450 two-wheelers and 40 autorickshaws can be parked, including in the open ground, on the complex. Ramp facility has been provided at the parking lots in the building.

From the fourth floor, space has been provided for setting up offices and other institutions. A four-storey administrative block has been set up behind the terminal for the KSRTC and a front office on the ground floor will take care of the bus operations.

Work on the project, implemented on a build, operate, transfer (BOT) mode jointly by the KSRTC and KTDFC, started on March 22, 2012. The KTDFC will take up the upkeep of the bus terminal complex.