Finally, work on what has been a dream project for the residents of Belagavi, which is poised for development as the second capital of the State, a modernised central bus station, commenced recently but after a long wait.
Equipment have been rolling out to demolish the entire old structure along with commercial outlets, reservation counters, canteen, passenger lounge, etc. The reservation counter has been shifted to the make-shift structure created a year ago to enable construction of the modern bus station. Half of the inter-city bus services are now being operated from the new City Bus Terminus opposite the old bus station. However, two-wheeler parking continues to be allowed at the old location for the time being. The modernisation project, which was initially conceived in 2009, got delayed allegedly due to red-tapism and lack of political leadership. However, the project got the final nod and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah laid the foundation stone on the last day of the winter session of the legislature here on December 3, 2016. Subsequently, the Transport Minister visited here during January and set a deadline for all the commercial establishments in the old bus station to shift by January 26.
The construction contract has been allotted to Harsh Constructions Private Limited, which is required to execute the ₹ 32.49 crore project over a period of 24 months. Now, people could look forward to entirely a new modernised bus station standing on 3.08 acres (adjacent to the NWKRTC divisional workshop spread over 4.68 acres) by January 2019, if the pace of work is maintained as per schedule.
According to sources, the new bus station will have 41 bus bays, circulation and parking areas, lanes for autorickshaw and taxi services, basement parking for private vehicles, terminal building with waiting areas, ticket/ reservation counters, cloak room, first-aid room, waiting rooms, rest room for the crew, passenger amenities such as drinking water, toilets, a yatri nivas, etc., besides a restaurant, shops and kiosks and administrative offices, parcel office.
