MARGAO
Billed as a modern bus stand complex which will have provision for IT start-up and educational institutions, besides a town hall and multi-parking project, the Rs 350 crore Margao bus stand to be named as FMBT (Fatorda Margao Bus Terminus), has received a nod from Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Apart from parking for over 100 buses at a time, the bus stand will have parking provision for 1350 cars and 960 two-wheelers inside the complex.
The mode of construction of the bus terminus, however, remains undecided till date.
TCP Minister, Vijai Sardesai on Monday has set in motion the consultative process to gather inputs from stakeholders before effecting necessary changes to the design in tune with the requirements.
Representatives of Black and Yellow taxis, motorcycle taxi pilots, rickshaws, inter-state bus stand, gadda traders, tourist buses et al in the presence of District Collector Anjali Sehrawat, Additional Collector Johnson Fernandes and other officials were present.
The TCP Minister told the stakeholders conducting business at the KTC bus stand that the government will protect their interests in the proposed bus stand. He sought to know from each of the associations their requirements at the bus stand. He, however, made it clear that gadda traders who have leased out their business stalls to outsiders may not find a place inside the complex.
After the stakeholders, including black and yellow taxis operators, inter-state bus operators, motorcycle pilots etc, gave their nod for the project, the TCP Minister asked them to submit their nod in writing at the next meeting scheduled on June 4. “If you are in favour of the project, submit the resolutions of your associations to facilitate the government to take up the project since opposition to projects is becoming the order of the day,” Sardesai told the stakeholders.
He later told the media that while the Chief Minister has given his nod to the Rs 350-crore project, the mode of construction will be decided in due course of time after finalizing the project design. “The government is weighing various options on the mode by which the project will be taken up for construction. It can be via design and build or a hybrid project or simply PPP or any other mode. For the moment, we do not want the government to play the role of a builder. This question will be decided in due course of time,” he said.
Replying to a question, Sardesai said the government has retained the same Delhi-based consultant, which was appointed by the Digambar Kamat government, but has made a number of changes to the project mooted by the then Congress government.
