Bhubaneswar: The state government will shift the bus stand at Baramunda to the foothills of Khandagiri temporarily to commence work on the much-awaited Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT).
Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has identified two acres of land in Khandagiri area for the purpose. Presently, the site is being used for parking of tourist buses. The new site is about one kilometer away from the main bus stand.
BDA vice-chairman Krishan Kumar Monday made a presentation before the Chief Secretary AP Padhi in this regard.
“We have identified a temporary site behind the Khandagiri hills where buses will be parked until the work at Baramunda bus stand is completed,” Kumar told the media.
The detail project report (DPR) for the modern bus terminal will be submitted to the government by January 25 and the process for floating tenders will begin simultaneously, he said, adding, “We are planning to finish all the modalities and start working on the terminal by June.”
Few days back, the architectural plan with amenities for the ISBT was submitted to and approved by the state government. The project will cost `180 crore. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had reviewed the design of the project and directed the officials to start working on it on a priority basis.
The Baramunda ISBT, which will be developed on more than 15 acres, will have a four-acre patch reserved for commercial development in future. The remaining the area (more than 11 acres) is earmarked for multi-modal transport hub, with a greater focus on intra-city, inter-city (intra-state) and inter-state bus services. It would have a terminal area and a commercial area.
As per the concept design, the terminal area of 9,839 square metres would have a ground floor of 4,343 square metres and three floors of 1,832 square metres each. The Phase-I of the project is expected to be completed by
June 2019.
PNN
