The Birsa Munda Bus Terminal at Khadgada from which numerous long route buses, including daily services to Delhi, Bhubaneshwar and Kolkata, operate will soon get shelter homes for the ease of passengers boarding and getting off in the wee hours. The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has elaborate plans to make the inter-state bus terminal even more passengers centric so that this state of the art bus terminal can operate on its full potential, catering to even more passengers.
Manager of Birsa Munda Bus Terminal Vikas Kumar said, “The road ahead seems challenging for us but we are committed to provide a seamless experience to our passengers.”
Many travelers exiting the bus depot at wee hours find it difficult to find commute to their respective destinations in the city, which keeps them waiting at the terminal itself. The management of the terminal is planning to make provisions for shelter homes in the main campus where passengers can retire and relax. “We will soon introduce shelter homes for men and women so that passengers can relax here. This service will be absolutely free of cost,” he said.
The Ranchi Municpal Corporation (RMC) plans to counter the ongoing issue of vehicular parking by acquiring the empty space of the PHED. “We have finished the process of RCC and lED posts have been erected so that people don’t face any problems while parking their cars and finding their way to the terminal,” Kumar added.
Other initiatives including activation of maximum booking counters, construction of community toilets, and inauguration of another food plaza are some of the other plans that the RMC aims to incorporate in the near future. However, plans of shifting the facility near Namkom are still waiting to get a nod from the State Government.
The construction of the flyover in the coming years will lead to the closure of the exit gate, located opposite Friends Petrol Pump. “We are in talks for acquiring some portions of land near the cemetery for the widening of the road near the entry gate. Post the construction of the flyover, both the entry and the exit will be from the same direction,” added Kumar.
Mahesh, a regular traveler on the Ranchi Tata route said, “The transformation of the paralyzed bus terminal is incredible. Special attention is given to cleanliness. Earlier getting down at Khadgada was a hectic affair. Since its revamp, my journeys to Tata have become very pleasing. Services like ATMs and quick medical help can be introduced to make our experience even more pleasing.”
Sheetal was another traveler who had all praises for the bus terminal. She said, “This bus terminal is passenger oriented. The cleanliness and the openness of the place impressed me. The only negative point about this terminal is the approach roads which are narrow and causes traffic jams. This needs to be resolved to avoid delays in our journey”
The transformation of the Birsa Munda Bus Terminal at Khadgada has been leaving the passengers spellbound since its inception. What was a den for notorious activities by miscreants, has developed into a fully fledged bus depot with more than 450 buses entering and leaving on a daily basis.