The Hindu

Udupi, Oct 29: The Udupi city bus-stand will get a new look, shortly. The construction of new bus shelters, shops and two toilets has been taken up at the bus-stand.

The previous bus shelters at the bus-stand were demolished because they were scattered around and people had to run around to climb buses. Sources in the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) said that the construction of new bus shelters, nine shops and two toilets had been entrusted to a private company on “Construct, maintain and transfer” (CMT) basis.

Under the 120-month agreement, the entire cost of construction would be borne by the private company. In return, the company would have the right to put up advertisements at the bus shelters. According to in-charge Commissioner of the CMC Gokuldas Nayak, the shops will be handed over to it, immediately after their construction. After the 120-month period, the CMC could start generating revenue from selling advertisement space at the bus-stand. “The construction of bus shelters and shops, estimated to cost about Rs. 25 lakh, is on the verge of completion. The advertisement space for the private company will be about 5,000 sq ft,” Mr. Nayak said. The autorickshaw-stand to the south of the city bus-stand would be shifted to the northern side. At present, the bus shelters have been constructed at a higher level than the surface. The four-laning of the Udupi-Manipal Road is also under way.

This road is also at a higher level than the previous road and the city bus-stand.

Sources in the CMC said that the CMC would be taking up either concreting or asphalting of the city bus-stand so that the ground-level would match the level of the Udupi-Manipal Road.

The increase in the surface level at the bus-stand would facilitate passengers in getting into the buses, the sources said.