Karnataka: Twin cities will get 50 bus shelters

HUBBALLI: Taking cognisance of growing ire among bus commuters in the twin cities owing to lack of good bus shelters, the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) has brought in Bengaluru-based Avinashi Outdoor Advertising Agency to build as many as 50 shelters across Hubballi-Dharwad.
Work on several sheltersis on under the design-build-operate-transfer (DBOT) model. The HDMC has identified spots suitable for construction of bus shelters and work on the facilities have already commenced at these places.
The Bengaluru-based agency has built shelters in the state capital.
Each shelter is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 5 lakh. The agency aims to recover its cost and subsequently a profit by using the shelters for advertising.
A source said the agency, which will be responsible for maintenance of the shelters for five years, will entrust them to the HDMC after that. The HDMC is expected to earn Rs 22 lakh in revenue from each bus shelter annually.
The Bus Rapid Transit System corridor resulted in several bus shelters being razed, while other development projects aimed at widening the road claimed many such facilities. Consequently, commuters were forced to brave the hot sun and rain and cold winds while awaiting their buses.
Hubballi-based activist Ramesh S said the authorities appeared to have been pushed into action by HDMC commissioner B Gopalkrishna. “It is encouraging that the HDMC has brought in a private agency for the project, and is not expending a single rupee on the initiative,” Ramesh said.
The HDMC commissioner said they had tasked the Bengaluru agency with developing 50 shelters initially before deciding on authorising the construction of more facilities. “We will gauge the response before commissioning more bus shelters,” Gopalkrishna said, confirming that the HDMC was not spending any money on the initiative.
The new-age shelters have already sprung up on PB Road, Lamington Road, near the sub-urban police station.