CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government is likely to submit a project to National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to help develop a Bus Port Cell in the State on a pilot basis.
Sanjeev Malik, executive director of NHIDCL told Express that the Central Executing agency is taking up bus port cell projects across the States and union territories on an experimental basis.
“Each state will have a bus stand, which will have advanced facilities similar to that available in airports. This is being done on a pilot basis and we have sought projects from the State,” he said.
It is learnt that once the pilot project is in place, the States will construct bus ports in different cities.
Interestingly, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has written to the State on September 7 and September 24.
“We are yet to hear from them. There is no deadline to submit the project,” said Malik.
Interestingly, the State is planning to build a world-class bus terminal at Kilambakkam (off Vandalur). The design of the terminus is proposed in such a way that passengers and visitors are segregated and only passengers are allowed to enter the bus finger area like airports.
However, a Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority official said the Kilambakkam bus terminus is unlikely to be considered under the project.“It is for existing bus depots of transport corporations and not bus stand and that too within the city limits only,” he said.
Malik said the project will be implemented under Build Operate Transfer basis.
“The State government’s role will be to provide NHIDCL with land,” he said.
It is learnt that besides choosing a location for the project, the States will have to form a nodal agency after which Central government will begin pre-feasibility research. Later, a report will be prepared.
Various departments are being involved to suggest a location for implementing the pilot project.