Water at a premium at new bus terminal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The new KSRTC Thampanoor terminal has become a major cause of embarrassment for authorities. As the terminal lacks space to accommodate enough number of buses, most buses are parked on road. Responses to the tender for allocating space are often poor. To make matters worse, the terminal is yet to get water connection. Hundreds of commuters are suffered by the incomplete work.
The authorities arrange water tankers every day to fill tanks so that water supply to toilets is not affected. However, once the tanks are empty, authorities shut down the toilets.
One of the staff of the terminal said on condition of anonymity that absence of water supply system was the major issue at the terminal. "The commuters suffer when we close down the toilets once the tanks dry up. The employees themselves find it difficult to work without enough water," he said.
KSRTC terminal project manager Ramachandran B N said that they could apply for water connection only when the corporation completes allocation of TC numbers for the shops. "Allocation of TC number has begun. But we could apply for water connection only when the process is completed," he said.
The 12-storeyed complex has a floor area of 24,984 sqm. The project was jointly developed by the Kerala transport development finance corporation (KTDFC) and the KSRTC on build-operate-transfer (BOT) mode.
The work began in March 2010 and the terminal was inaugurated this year. However, most works still remain unfinished. KSRTC and KTDFC have spent Rs 56 crore for the project. KSRTC had earlier planned another bus terminal for long distance buses at Eanchakkal. However, the project is yet to take off.