BENGALURU: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to part with its land to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited for the construction of a passenger movement corridor connecting the Kempegowda Metro station and the KSRTC and BMTC bus stations. The decision was taken during a high-level meet held at the Kempegowda Bus station between Metro, BMTC, KSRTC and the traffic police on Tuesday afternoon.
The absence of any connectivity was posing huge problems to commuters who wanted to interchange between the Metro and bus stations. K S Viswanath, General Manager, Traffic (KSRTC) told Express that the subway inside the Kempegowda Metro station West entrance (Gubbi Thotadappa Road) which was ready but closed will now be opened. “The passenger corridor will pass through the KSRTC bus station from the subway of Metro. It will lead to the BMTC bus station too and then to the subway located on this side, ” he said.
The corridor would be fast-tracked and might come within three months Viswanath said, adding, “BMRCL has taken on the responsibility of constructing it.”
The maximum passenger traffic in Metro stations takes place at Kempegowda Metro station after the entire Phase-I was commissioned on June 18.
“Passengers alighting from Metro and heading towards the bus stations or in the reverse direction presently use the road along which the footpath runs. Buses are approaching in the opposite direction causing much congestion along this road,” he said. With a stinking BBMP toilet located along the footpath and hawkers doing brisk business here, passengers hardly use the footpath.
“We had initially requested the BBMP to shut down the toilet as there are enough toilets nearby in the KSRTC bus depot. We planned to demolish the retaining wall here. But they have ignored our request. So, we have finally decided to create a corridor from the subway as our bus station too is 8 feet below the ground,” Viswanath said. It has also been decided to extend the Foot Over Bridge that connects the KSRTC and BMTC bus stations upto the Kempe Gowda Metro station, he added.