THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finally, the KSRTC bus terminal complex at Thampanoor gets a makeover. The major part of the building has been leased out and the construction of the offices occupied in the building is nearing completion. The 65-crore twelve-storey building was commissioned during the previous government in early 2014. Since then, the Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation (KTDFC), the nodal agency in charge of the complex, has been struggling to lease out space.
Following a fall-out, the complex was in an abandoned state for the past few years. However, it got a redemption recently after the government decided to lease out the space to government offices functioning at rented buildings. KTDFC is overseeing the complex on BOT (build, operate and transfer) basis.
As per the details accessed by Express, only around 8,000 square feet in the building is left free out of the total 98,290 square.
Apart from government offices, including RTO office, a world-class theatre run by Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), restaurants and food court will also be opened. The agreement between the KTDFC and the several leasing partners are on the way.
According to R Rahul, managing director, KTDFC, almost the entire space has been leased out and efforts are on to lease out the remaining space.
“The work to set up various government offices are progressing at a fast pace in the complex. The ground floor has been occupied by the private parties and other floors are being occupied by government offices. We hope the commercial and office spaces would start functioning soon”, Rahul said.
He added that the complex got a facelift due to the government intervention.
“Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was very determined in leasing out the space to government offices. He had mentioned how many government offices were functioning in rented buildings and how they cut a sorry figure. It would help the public too as the complex is close to the bus and railway stations”, Rahul added.
KTDFC has floated tender nine times to invite the leasing partners since the inauguration of the complex. Sadly, none expressed interest. It had also decided to rent out the space for advertising, aimed to generate revenue.
Apart from being an alighting and boarding point for KSRTC buses, the complex is expected to be a shopper’s paradise with the shops offering anything from grocery to gold in the ground floor. As many as 145 cars and 250 two-wheelers can be parked in the basement alone. In addition, the basement will have a commercial area, central lobby, elevators, atrium and toilets.
Commercial area and a central lobby are in the first floor of the complex. The second floor, in addition to the space for the shops and a central lobby, will have the facility to park 87 cars at a time.
The third floor will house a convention centre and food court in addition to the central lobby. As many as 87 cars can also be parked on the third floor. The covered parking will be for 30.
All the floors from fourth onwards will have areas demarked for offices, central lobby and toilets. Major government offices coming up in the complex include Regional Transport Office, KSFE, Kerala Women’s Commission, Industrial Tribunal, Social Justice department, Directorate of Women and Child Development department, Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited, Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment centre, Director of Civil supplies, Department of Environment and Climate change, KSFDC, Directorate of Kerala State Lotteries and KTDC restaurant. From basement floor to the first floor has been occupied by commercial partners for setting up shops to facilitate the commuters coming to the terminal.