In a move that will benefit thousands of commuters, the much delayed facelift of the Anand Vihar inter-state bus terminal is likely to commence soon. The long-pending building plan for the project has been approved by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). With the nod coming in, the work on the much-delayed revamp of the ISBT is expected to start by March 2014, once the tender formalities are complete. The ISBT will be developed as a multi-modal transit centre that will integrate bus, Metro and railway services.

The Rs200 crore revamp project of the Anand Vihar bus terminal will be developed on an area of 9.2 hectares. According to the officials with the transport department, the refurbishment of the ISBT is expected to be completed by February 2016. “The project has cleared the hurdles of approvals. It has received nods from unified traffic and transportation infrastructure (planning and engineering) centre (UTTIPEC), no objection certificate from the Airport Authority of India, the requisite environment permissions and the building plan approval from DDA,” said the official.

As the bus terminal will be used by the scores of bus commuters daily, the revamped bus terminal will also include development of commercial areas, including a shopping arcade, restaurants and a food court. As per the proposal, essential facilities such as ticketing counter, security checks, waiting lounges, restrooms are planned on the ground floor. Food court, restaurants and the shopping arcade will come up at the concourse level.

Attention has been placed on providing necessary security infrastructure such as close circuit television (CCTV) cameras and baggage scanners.  Other facilities at the bus terminal include provision of suitable ventilation and air conditioning system.