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Coimbatore Corpn. reviews project report on integrated bus stand

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The Hindu                     13.04.2013

Coimbatore Corpn. reviews project report on integrated bus stand

Staff Reporter

To be spread over 12.58 acres, the integrated bus stand at Gandhipuram will be ready in about two-and-half year’s time if the Coimbatore Corporation has its way.

The civic body took the first step towards realising the new bus stand by reviewing the detailed project report that the agency engaged for the purpose submitted on Friday.

According to Mayor S.M. Velusamy, the agency has submitted the report, which the Coimbatore Corporation will forward to the State Government for funds.

The entire project is likely to cost the Government Rs. 120 crore.

The Corporation will try to secure the Local Planning Authority funds to meet a part of the expenditure, contribute around Rs. 30 crore from its General Fund and then avail of the remaining money as loan or subsidy from any of the State’s funding agencies.

Mr. Velusamy says that the Corporation will move the Government to also take possession of a portion of the Coimbatore Central Prison grounds, which it was promised in lieu of the land in Vellalore it gave to the Home Department.

As per the detailed project report, the bus stand will have fives lakh square feet, the ability to accommodate 166 buses at any point in time and around 600 cars in the multi-level car parking.

Of the 166 buses, 132 will be for the mofussil and the rest for the city buses.

The city buses will be accommodated in seven parking bays.

The Mayor says that the design provision accommodates the proposed flyover in Gandhipuram in that pedestrians will be able to directly reach the bay they want to board buses.

Their movement on the ground will be limited to a great extent.

Shops

On the first floor the bus stand will have shops — around 200, each measuring approximately 220 sq.ft. It will have two entry points and four exit points.

Deputy Commissioner S. Sivarasu says that the civic body will take into confidence the Coimbatore City Police in deciding the entry and exit points and also their number. Plus, the civic body was also contemplating sharing the integrated bus stand report with the public through its website for inviting suggestions.

The present town bus stand measures a little over two acres and sees the entry and exit of 550 buses a day.