As part of a proposal to decongest and upgrade facilities at bus terminuses in the city, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) will soon float tenders to set up Traffic and Transit Management Centres (TTMC) at two of its termini.
A senior MTC official said that construction work would begin within six months at Thiruvanmiyur and T.Nagar bus terminuses. Subsequently, five other terminuses are slated to get similar transit centres.
The feasibility report envisages a two-level bus station. The ground level would be remodelled to efficiently regulate bus movement and the first level would house commercial complexes.
The facilities would be built through the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) model. The official said that the complex would house public utilities such as ATMs, shops and toilets. “Exactly what is required would be determined through a market survey,” he said.
An underground paid park-and-ride facility is also on the anvil inside the two termini to encourage a shift towards public transport usage. But initially, parking space would be allotted only on the ground level.
A tender has been called to identify a ‘transaction adviser,' who would help the MTC determine what exactly to ask from the private operator, who would be entrusted to develop the terminus.
There are about 20 such consultants in the country and since the MTC does not have in-house expertise on such commercial tie-ups, outside help is being sought, the official said.
Bangalore was one of the first few cities in the country to build a TTMC. The project was funded by the Centre through the JNNURM scheme. Chennai was unable to avail itself of such funding and there have been repeated delays as a result.
It would now go ahead using State government funding. The MTC has 25 bus depots in the city and operates a fleet of 3,241 buses.
