The Ranchi Municipal Corporation garnered views and suggestions of denizens of State capital representing various sections of society about four ambitious projects pertaining to transportation and recreation meant to make a beautiful Ranchi
Ward councillors, academicians, transporter and architects gathered on Wednesday to discuss the proposed structure of four city beautification projects – Inter-state bus terminal in Kanke, renovation of Government bus stand near Ranchi Railway Station, Transport Nagar in Namkum and Birsa Munda Smriti Park in old Ranchi Central Jail campus.
Proposed Detailed Project Reports of the projects were demonstrated by iDeck, a subsidiary firm of consultation agency IDFC, for experts to suggest modifications so as to make them ideal for Ranchi.
For overhauling the Government bus stand, it will not only be rejuvenated as a hub for long-distance and short-distance buses but will also offer a slew of facilities to passengers.
“The terminus will feature a complex transit structure. It will be connected to the nearby Ranchi railway station through a skywalk and will also be connected to the monorail or metro rail network when they come around,” stated an iDeck official.
Most of the components of the terminal will bring in revenue. A high-class hotel, affordable dormitories, mall, food court and a state-of-the-art modern library will be a part of the structure to be built in 18 acres of land with the cost of `145 crores. Including a library in the structure was especially applauded for catering to the students who come to Ranchi for taking examinations.
The Inter-state bus terminal (ISBT) proposed in Sukurhuttu of Kanke block is another project meant to address transportation needs of Ranchi. Through Ring Road, ISBT will connect Ranchi to other districts and States through inter-state, intra-state and inter-city bus services. 50 bus bays and parking space for 250 buses will be provided in 10 acres of the structure.
To be built in a 50 acres plot located 200 metres from Ring Road near Sukurhuttu, the proposed ISBT can handle around 11,000 people during peak hours. The facility will be equipped with accommodation services, commercial spaces along with value added services like Wi-Fi.
ISBT, however, faces some hitches in form of parcels of private land scattered within the land in Sukurhuttu and land for approach road leading from Ring Road to the terminal that are yet to be acquired.
DPR for Transport Nagar, which was promised during the Statehood Day celebrations last year, was discussed in the meeting too. Proposed on 35 acres of land in Sarwal of Namkum, the structure can be expanded as land is acquired for it in future. The present structure can house 300 trucks, which will grow to 1500 trucks after expansion.
The structure will feature offices of transport companies, service centres of heavy vehicle manufacturers, shops offering goods and services truck drivers need and warehouses and godowns for transporters to unload the goods and distribute those using smaller trucks. Transport Nagar will be equipped with Wi-Fi so that transport companies can keep an eye on their vehicles using GPS.
The international features of the already popular Birsa Munda Smriti Park in old Ranchi Central Jail premises were also discussed and deliberated over in the meeting. The highlight of the park will be the depiction of life of freedom fighters from Jharkhand along with mineral resources and cultural diversity of the State. A 60 meter high watch tower with a revolving restaurant and viewer’s gallery, offering the aerial view of Ranchi is also meant to attract visitors.
Suggestions received in the meeting will be incorporated in the DPRs and they will be approved in the next three months, stated iDeck officials.