The Rishikesh ISBT, also used for operation of buses ferrying pilgrims to the Char Dham shrines during the yatra season, is not being used this year due to encroachments and mismanagement by the authorities concerned.
Sources State that the ISBT has capacity for about 1100 buses but at present has space for about 550 buses mainly due to encroachment which is not being removed by the Rishikesh municipality.
Char Dham Sainyukt Rotation Yatra Vyavastha Samiti (CDSRYVS) head Sudhir Rai said that the Rishikesh ISBT can hold about 1100 buses but its present capacity is about 550 buses. The main reason for this is the encroachment which the Rishikesh municipality has not been able to remove yet, he added.
According to CDSRYVS administrative officer Brij Bhan Prakash, during his tenure as the chief minister, ND Tiwari had directed that the Rishikesh ISBT be developed on the lines of the facility at Munich, Germany but this could not be done. At present the Rishikesh ISBT has ample space but a lot of it is not being used as intended. The compound looks bare with even potted plants not being placed to improve the ambiance.
According to officials, the Rishikesh municipality has marked 147 kiosks on the ISBT compound, the owners of which are to be relocated into uniform sized shops. However the actual number of kiosks of varied dimensions encroaching here is more than 200. The kiosks encroaching on a substantial area prevent the buses from being placed as intended along the platform for the passengers to board and de-board conveniently. Bus operators also point out that the roadways workshop here is also occupying much space and causing inconvenience.
The approach road to the ISBT from the Natraj Chowk has not been leveled and tarred which prevents the use of separate routes for buses entering and exiting the compound. This in turn results in traffic congestion in Rishikesh. They point out that necessary infrastructure has been provided here but it is not being used effectively and the impression that it leaves on the tourists and pilgrims could be considerably improved.
Since the Char Dham tourist bus transit compound at the Rishikesh ISBT is the first impression a pilgrim gets of the Char Dham Yatra facilitation, the authorities need to resolve pending issues and improve the condition of the ISBT in Rishikesh, they add.