Two city bus terminals to get airport-like makeover

Prayagraj: Two bus terminals in city on Civil Lines and Zero road will soon get airport like makeover and equipped with top class public amenities.
This follows the decision of the UP cabinet on Friday which approved development of 23 bus stations in the state through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
The terminals will be developed on the DBFOT model (design, build, finance, operate and transfer). The bus terminals in 16 districts — Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Agra, Mathura, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Bareilly, Meerut, Hapur, Aligarh, Ayodhya and Gorakhpur — have been selected for the development in the first phase.
“We have submitted a proposal for remodelling and upgrading the facilities of these two important bus depots of the district –the Civil Lines and Zero bus depot— and now that the state cabinet has given its approval for the developing 23 bus terminals including that at Prayagraj, the denizens of the Sangam city would be getting airport like facilities at these two bus terminals,” said regional manager, UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), MK Trivedi.
Two bus terminals at Mirzapur and Vindhyachal will also be developed in similar fashion, added Trivedi.
These bus terminals will have upgraded passenger amenities and security arrangements and might be multi-storeyed.
Besides a food court, the bus stands will have a shopping mall, theatre, AC and non-AC waiting halls for passengers, parcel room, cloak room, ATMs, post office, police booth and, in all possibilities, medical emergency services as well. Parking space, toilets, ample lighting, air-conditioning, display boards, CCTVs and rest room for crew will further add to the level of facilities.
About 70% of the area of the bus stand will be utilised for operational purposes while 30% for construction of buildings.
Moreover, the developer will maintain the bus station for 35 years at his own cost. The main commercial complex, however, might be maintained and operated by the developer for 90 years before being handed over to the UPSRTC. The developers can let out the commercial property on rent to earn money.
In the second phase, the state government may take up development of another 35 bus terminals.
The revamping of these two bus depots would be taken up jointly by the UPSRTC and the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA). After fully developed as per decision of the state government, these two bus depots would come handy in handling the huge turnout of passengers for Maha Kumbh 2025.
These model bus stations will also have a hotel-cum-restaurant for the passengers so that they don’t have to search for accommodation, especially when they arrive in the city late night. The highlight of the building would be that it would be friendly for differently abled persons.
“The entire building would be equipped with solar panels so that most of the power consumption is realised by solar energy,” said Trivedi.