After missing two deadlines so far, things are starting to look up for the upcoming Birsa Munda Bus Terminal project at Khadgarha locality. It faced bottlenecks since its inception two years back in the form of overhead high-tension wires and boundary obstructing the bus bays, and still has encroachment on part of the 80,000 square feet allotted to it.But the entire process has sped up after missing the second deadline, June 30, when it piqued the interest of Chief Minister Raghubar Das, who ordered the bus terminal done by end of September so that it can be inaugurated on 2 October. The high-tension wire hindering vertical expansion of the bus terminal building was removed a couple of days ago. Boundary wall erected by drinking water and sanitation department obstructing the bus bays was moved too.
It would have been a cake walk from here on, if not for encroachment, the biggest hurdle this project faces.“Around 40 per cent of the area allotted to the bus terminal is taken up by a Pragya Kendra, public toilet and slums. This encroached space is to be used to construct access roads to Kantatoli Chowk, drains and parking space. The project will be incomplete without getting these done,” said an official at the construction site.RMC has sprung into action to relocate those occupying the project site so that the new deadline can be met.
Deputy Mayor Sanjeev Vijaywargia said, “A list of those who are to be moved has been handed over to the authorities and we expect them to approve it in a day or two. We will begin shifting people from Khadgarha to a space in Madhukam as soon as we get the thumbs up from the government and intend the relocation to be smooth and swift.”Once functional, the new bus terminal will be equipped with four ticket counters, shops, administrative offices related to the bus terminal, dormitories, passenger shed expanding to an area of 40,000 square feet, parking space and counters for travel agents for the convenience of the passengers.
“We have been working for the past two years on this project and will take it to its completion. RMC has extended their full support, and with a little coordination the bus terminus will be done on time. The bottlenecks we faced have been dealt with, even it took time. With the last hindrance of encroachment soon to be out of the way, we are hopeful that this time the deadline will be met for sure,” said R.S. Agarwal, proprietor of R.S. Agarwal Infrastructure Private limited, the firm supervising the project.