Coimbatore: The Gandhipuram Central Bus stand is all set to don a new look as the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has planned to renovate this transit hub at an estimated cost of 30 crore.
The revamp aims to address congestion issues in the existing setup by significantly improving the infrastructure and enhancing parking facilities.
A senior corporation officer said that one of the primary suggestions for improvement was to establish an underground parking space while utilizing the upper area to park buses.
"This proposal is still under feasibility review. Once finalized, the estimate will be sent for approval," the officer said.
Gandhipuram central bus terminus currently handles an average footfall of 30,000 passengers daily and facilitates around 750 bus departures.
Approximately 50 buses leave every hour, connecting Coimbatore with towns such as Anaikatti, Avinashi and Mettupalayam, alongside long-distance routes to Tirupur, Erode, and Salem. Both government and private buses operate from the station.
Public and bus operators have been demanding to improve facilities at the bus stand.
Coimbatore District Bus Owners Association (CDBOA) president V Duraikannan said congestion was the primary problem.
"A bay is often shared by two buses in the bus stand. We recommend moving long-distance buses, particularly those headed to Salem, to Singanallur bus stand. However, buses serving daily commuters, like those to Tirupur and Erode, should remain in Gandhipuram for convenience," he said.
He pointed out the lack of essential facilities, particularly for drivers. "There are no dedicated toilets for drivers, forcing them to rely on poorly maintained pay-and-use public toilets. Improving the floor maintenance and overall cleanliness of the bus stand should be prioritized," he added.
Suggesting an increase in parking space, bus drivers point out that vehicles are parked haphazardly.
To assess the feasibility of the proposed renovations, a team of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, accompanied by corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran, inspected the bus stand on Monday.
The commissioner said the IIT team would work on the detailed project report for the revamp of the bus stand and submit it soon.