Bus depot ready, but Kumbh land still a riddle

NASHIK: With Nashik Road bus depot being constructed, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has become the first of the government agencies involved in the Kumbh preparations to finish a major project for the event.
The Nashik Road bus depot with a repair and maintenance facility can handle more than 240 buses.
"The construction work is over and the depot will soon be handed over to the mechanical department to add machinery required for carrying out maintenance and repairs of the buses.This was a major activity as far as Kumbh-related works are concerned," Shivaji Pawar, divisional engineer, MSRTC, said.
The MSRTC has planned on spending Rs 11.25 crore on developmental works, including Rs 4 crore for the construction of the depot, Rs 1.5 crore for Jawhar Phata at Trimbakeshwar and Rs 4.30 crore for development of the parking areas around Nashik and Trimbakeshwar during the mega religious congregation.
Among the works to be completed for Kumbh, the construction of the depot has been completed, with the exception of electrical connections. The mechanical department will soon be taking control of the building and adding the machinery required in the depot. "The activity is likely to be completed by November, after which, the operations will begin," an officer from the mechanical department said.
Pawar further said the depot was the biggest in the division with 10 workstations and two bus-cleaning ramps. "The newly constructed depot is spacious and more activities can been carried out in the area as and when required," Pawar said.
The Nashik Road bus stand, located next to Railway Station and constructed around 1955, had been demolished completely, the officer added.
"We have completely demolished the old structure that stood parallel to the railway station. Under the renovation, the MSRTC is spending Rs 50 lakh to construct the platform which will be more than four feet high and will have openings from the railway station-end as well. Passengers coming out from the railway station can easily see the buses parked in front. Thus, they can enter the platform with seating arrangements, rest for a while and then proceed," Pawar said.
Similarly, the work on the construction of the bus stand at Jawhar Phata, Trimbakeshwar is also being carried out in full swing. "The Jawhar Phata bus stand is located just outside the old limits of the town. The MSRTC had constructed the bus stand during the last Kumbh. Later on, it was used during the Shravan month when the crowd of devotees is huge. The same stand will be renovated at a cost of Rs 40 lakh," Pawar further said.
"Concretisation of the entire circulating area of the stand has been proposed and we are sure the works will be completed by January. The construction of the bus stand is nearing completion," Pawar added.
The MSRTC has, meanwhile, requested the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) to construct the Sulabh urinals in the MSRTC campus so that the corporation can carry out other works.
"We have also proposed the NMC to start Sulabh urinals in the area to be provided by us. With this, we will be able to further increase the services for the passengers, including the construction of pick-up shades," the officer said.