BENGALURU: Spread across six acres, this four-storeyed complex was constructed at a cost of nearly Rs 40 crore. It has five elevators and vast parking spaces for two-wheelers and four-wheelers.
We’re not describing the office building of a multi-national company, but some of the facilities at the spacious Peenya satellite bus stand.
However, two years after its opening, this swanky facility offers a dismal sight with deserted stands and few passengers.
It is deserted because of a combination of poor connectivity, competition from private players and improper planning.
The bus stand, now named Basaveshwara Satellite Bus Terminal, was inaugurated with much fanfare by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on August 21, 2014. The bus stand covers a total area of 63,010 sq.ft.(6 acres and 22 guntas) and cost the exchequer Rs 39.25 cr.
The idea was to operate 1,021 inter-state buses – including those towards Tumakuru, Pavagada, Davangere, Mangaluru, Kunigal, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru – from this stand, in stages. This was to ease the traffic congestion at the Kempegowda Bus Stand (Majestic), thereby reducing accidents and pollution in the city.
However, within six months of operations, the KSRTC ran up to loss of nearly Rs 12 crore, says an official with the transport service, on condition of anonymity. Why? “Private buses were still allowed to operate from Majestic. Many passengers found it cumbersome to travel all the way to Peenya,” he says.
Instead of the 1,000 and odd buses planned from here, today only 17 KSRTC buses start from this stand. There were buses towards Mysuru, running every two hours, and now they have been terminated. The stand acts as a mere pick-up point for 865 buses originating from Majestic.
There are 16 people on the maintenance staff, working in two shifts in the bus stand. One of the staff members who has been working since the inception of the bus stand says, “Very few people come here. But we are doing our work daily like sweeping the floors and cleaning the toilets.”
It is estimated that only around 400-500 people come daily to this bus stand. In comparison, the Majestic station handles 60,000 to 80,000 passengers every day.
A commuter travelling towards Kunigal, says, “The government has built a passenger-friendly bus stand. But if it is not made use of, we feel the pain since it is our hard-earned money.”
He adds, “All private inter-state buses near Majestic should be stopped 3 km out of the city. It would keep these thousands of buses and private vehicles used to reach the bus stand out!”
This proposal, to keep public and private inter-city buses on the outskirts, was given by the city’s traffic department last month.
Gaudaru Andhanappa, a bus driver of the Hilkar Bus Depot, Bagalkot district says that passengers must use Peenya stand to save time.
“They can save up to two hours instead of getting caught in the city traffic,” he says.
Last-mile Trouble
But there is the problem of connectivity. “There is only a metro garage here, no station,” says driver Andhanappa. “There should be one close by. All business happens in and around a bus stand. With no buses here, there is a lot of money lost.”
The nearest Metro Station (Peenya) is 1 km away and the nearest bus stop is around 0.8 km away.
Prakash Patel, a private agency field executive in Bengaluru, says, “A metro station is needed. All BMTC buses should also be made to come here. The public should have an assurance of a pick up”.
A bus conductor, who did not wish to be named, says, “As Mysore satellite stand is on the main road, many people use it. This place is also too far for people on the other side of the city. But if properly used, there will be less accidents in the city. Pollution also will come down”
An official source claims that next to the bus stand, there is an area of 2 acres and 28 guntas, which can be used for the BMTC buses. Presently, APSRTC buses halt there.
Sooraj, a BCom student who studies in Pavagada, says, “If BMTC buses are allowed to come here, then it is beneficial. Now they stop only at the Jalahalli Cross stop. When it rains, it becomes very difficult for the passengers, especially with kids and luggage.”
Trade Affected
Even though a large space on the lower floors and the top two floors has been exclusively provided for private traders and commercial activities, there are only two shops that run here. Owners of tea shops say that their sales are poor and hardly enough to cover the rent they have to pay.
“I work from 8 am to 7 pm with a profit of around Rs 250 a day,” says Ramesh K, a shopkeeper. “Most of the buses that come here stop on the Nelamangala highway. People have their food from the private hotels. So no one buys anything from me except an occasional bottle of water or some biscuits.”
Sundar Raj, who also runs a tea stall, is better placed. His store is on the ground floor, while Ramesh’s is on the upper floor. So, Sundar makes Rs 1,500 a day. But even he says that the sales barely cover running costs. Interestingly, a notice board on the bus stand prominently displays that all the buses should halt for 10 minutes. But Sundar says, “none of the buses do”.
Ramesh, a passer-by, says “Buses enter the stand only for the bus conductors to make their entry in the registers.”
Missing Queues
The bus stand has only two booking counters -- one for the Kerala State Transport Corporation and the other for the Karnataka State Transport Corporation.
Says Raiju, who works at the Kerala Bus counter says, “Only 5 buses to Kerala start from here. They are to Kottayam, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Thalassery and Kannur. One bus which starts from Majestic going towards Kasargod has a pick-up point here” The Karnataka booking centre also wears dismal look with no passengers at the counter. A woman, who works at the booking counter, says, “Private buses should be made to stop in Majestic. BMTC buses should be allowed to be either operated from here or at least have a pick-up and drop points here.”