July 18, 2014
WB Govt to shift Babughat and Esplanade bus stands to Santragachi
The Babughat and Central bus stand atEsplanade will be shifted to Santragachi by 30 September this year, StateTransport Minister Mr Madan Mitra said.
Mr Mitra said the new bus terminus atSantragachi will come up on 10 acres of land. The decision was taken to complywith the order of Calcutta High Court.
The state transport department hasentrusted the Hooghly River Bridge Commissioner (HRBC) to construct a modernbus terminus and land surface at Santragachi. The HRBC will spend Rs 10 crorein this regard. A taxi stand will also come up at the terminus.
The state transport department has receivedanother 6 acres land at Goragacha in South 24 Parganas to construct anothermodern bus terminus. The buses, which will not find place at Santragachi willbe shifted at Goragacha. At least 200 buses can be parked at Goragacha at onego.
Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee hashanded over both designated lands at Santragachi and Goragacha to the statetransport department, Mr Mitra said. The HRBC will spend Rs 6 crore to build amodern bus terminus at Goragacha, Mr Mitra said. Earlier, the state transportdepartment had decided to remove the Babughat bus stand at Rajarhat.
The court had ordered the terminus to beshifted to save Victoria Memorial from automobile fumes. The continued presenceof the bus terminus is in complete discordance with the government`s riversidebeautification plan, Mr Mitra said. The 10-acre plot in Santragachi, next tothe railway station, is bigger than the bus termini at Esplanade and Babughattaken together, said a senior official of the transport department.
From now on, all state transportundertakings will use Babughat and Esplanade as a halting place. The governmenthas also picked out six depots at Taratala, Joka, Kasba, Belgharia, Thakurpukurand Nilgunge near Belgharia where government buses from Esplanade have beenshifted.
Transport minister Madan Mitra said: “Evenafter moving to the new terminus, the buses will be allowed to stop atEsplanade for passengers. The operators have now sought longer stoppage timesat Esplanade for offloading.”
