SAMBALPUR: Ending the long wait, Sambalpur City is likely to get its modern bus terminus by September. Being developed on 5.28 acres of land at an estimated cost of `13 crore and strategically located along National Highway 6 at Ainthapali, work of the terminus is going on in full swing.
Currently, a bus stand operating at the place since 1998 is devoid of basic amenities. A tin shed is the only piece of cover for passengers from rain and sun and in absence of toilets, women passengers face a lot of inconvenience.
Considering the inconvenience faced by the passengers and rising demand for the public transport, it was decided last year to develop a modern bus terminus at the same place. On the initiative of Sambalpur Collector Balwant Singh, Bhusan Power and Steel Limited (BPSL) at Thelkuli was roped in to construct the modern terminus.
In view of the ongoing construction work, buses are presently operating from a temporary location near Panchgacchia, also along the NH-6.
Vice-president, administration of BPSL Dinesh Yadav said they had set a target to complete work on the modern bus terminus at Ainthapali by August. The work will be delayed as monsoon has set in, he said but hoped that the work would be completed by September-end.
The new bus terminus will have separate parking bays for buses, auto-rickshaws, multipurpose booking counters, administrative building, rainwater harvesting system, kiosks, food courts, solar light arrangement besides other public conveniences.
All the buses, including those of the OSRTC, City Bus Service and private operators, will use the terminus.
A modern bus terminus was a long standing demand of the people of the city as thousands of passengers depend on buses to reach other places in the State. While several buses originate from Sambalpur, hundreds of others pass through the city which called for the need for construction of a bus terminus.