The State is to get a busport with requisite infrastructure and facilities to improve passenger comfort and give the much-needed boost to public bus transportation systems.
Mooted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the concept is to bring private operators to the mainstream, allowing them entry to busports. As State transport undertakings or other organisations having adequate land parcels can seek assistance under the MoRTH guidelines, the cash-strapped Kerala State Transport Corporation has decided to grab the opportunity.
“We have identified Kottayam where land is lying unused for setting up the bus port,” KSRTC Chairman and Managing Director Tomin J. Thachankary told The Hindu .
At the proposed busport, commuters can have access to safe boarding and deboarding locations and avail themselves of amenities such as drinking water, food, rest areas and washrooms.
Safe locations
Even for intra and inter fleet operations, the ports will provide safe locations for parking vehicles and for smooth operations. The concept is also aimed at ending over-dependence on personalised mode of transport and encourage the use of public transport system .
MoRTH assistance will be through the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), a fully owned company of MoRTH designated as the central executing agency.
The assistance will be in the form of expenditure on pre-feasibility assessment, preparation of detailed project report, funding support, and monitoring through project management consultant.
The concessionaire will be selected through bidding and the project will be executed either in BOT, HAM or EPC mode, a communication from MoRTH to the State Principal Secretary, Transport, and the Transport Commissioner said.
For the State, the busport could be developed either as a greenfield or a brown field project. The basic and core infrastructure of bus bays, ticket counters, food joints, rest room areas, and parking will have to be developed within a specified time frame.
Phases
The commercial facility may be developed in phases based on the commercial potential.
Irrespective of whether the busport is large, medium or small, MoRTH funding of the capital cost shall be limited to 40% of the project. If an appropriate location abutting an NH is identified for developing a greenfield bus port, the required land can be acquired under the NH Act, 1956, provided the State agrees to bear the cost of land.
