Periyar bus terminal set for Rs 137 crore makeover

Madurai: The

Periyar

bus terminal in the city, from where TNSTC operates buses, is all set to undergo a complete overhaul under the Smart City scheme and the officials are planning to operate buses from four different places temporarily. The terminal, stationed on a 7.5-acre land, is to be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 137.44 crore by the civic corporation.

Officials said that they had to short-list four different places owing to the unavailability of an alternative single suitable place in the city. City engineer (in-charge) A Arasu said that a meeting to discuss and shortlist the temporary places was held recently at Madurai Corporation office in which officials from city traffic police, TNSTC, HR and CE apart from the corporation participated. An official announcement would be made soon once the locations are finalised, he said.

Thirupparankundram Road, Kattabomman Statue, empty ground at Ellis Nagar Main Road belongs to Meenakshi Amman Temple and Travelers Bungalow Road are the four places shortlisted.

An official from TNSTC said that they had asked for a single place, since it would be convenient for the corporation as well as the passengers. "We were told that space required for a single terminal is unavailable in the city now. We suggested the Madura College ground, but it was not considered as it would upset the students" he said.

A traffic official said that they are fine with the Ellis Nagar Road and Travelers Bungalow Road. But the other two places, Kattabomman statue and TPK Road, would result in snarl-ups. However, they will extend their cooperation to the development initiative.

According to TNSTC officials, around 800 services are operated from Periyar bus terminal a day, while more than 50,000 passengers use it on a daily-basis.

The construction work will start as soon as the shops in the terminal are vacated. Though notices have been issued to the shopkeepers to vacate the shops, many of them have not shifted so far. They together under a forum have filed a suit at the Madurai bench of the Madras high court. Officials, however, expressed confidence that they will get a favorable court order to start the work soon.

Officials said that the bus terminal will undergo a massive overhaul as they have planned modern facilities in the upcoming structure. There would be two basement floors and four floors above the ground floor with Wi-Fi connectivity. A shopping complex with more than 430 shops will also be constructed in the proposed terminal. There will be multi-level pay parking facility to accommodate more than 4,000 two-wheelers and 260 four-wheelers.


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