In a move to improve inter-State bus connectivity in the city, Noida Authority has decided to construct a first-of-its-kind Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Sector 144 at a cost of Rs 250 crore.
The announcement to this effect was made by Noida Authority recently, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Delhi-based construction company.
The construction work for the ambitious project will begin from next month and is expected to complete within one year. Authority has allotted 50 acres of land for this purpose. A luxury hotel, two commercial towers other civic infrastructures will also be constructed under this project near the site.
Initially, the buses will be plied to neighbouring States like Haryana, Punjab, Himanchal Pradesh and Rajsthan, and later services will start for other States as well. Authority will hand over the terminus to State transport department, once the terminus is fully operational.
At present, there is no bus terminus in the district and the passengers will have to travel to the national Capital for Inter-State bus facility.
According to a senior official of Noida Authority, as it was a long-pending proposal, the move has taken place only after a go-ahead from the State Government. The proposed terminus will be equipped with all basic facilities and latest technologies. "With its swanky look and modern facilities -- such as an air-conditioned waiting lounge, glass elevators, escalators, food court, better security with closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) and public information system -- the terminus will be a first-of-its kind in Delhi-NCR region," said PK Agarwal, Additional CEO of Noida Authority.
The selection of place was done tactfully as Sector 144 is situated parallel to Noida-Greater Noida expressway, so the travellers do not have to face hardships in approaching the bus station.
"We have asked the company to survey all bus stations of Delhi-NCR, especially Delhi's Kashmere Gate ISBT and give a final report, so that we could equip it with latest facilities," he added.