Bus stands in state to get Rs 25 cr modern makeover

DEHRADUN: Chief minister Harish Rawat directed officials in the state transport department on Friday to take bank loan to the tune of Rs 25 crore to modernize and upgrade nearly 52 bus stands run by the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC).
Rawat also asked the department to expedite its plan of inducting dozens of volvo and deluxe and 400 other buses in its fleet to boost road connectivity in the state.
At a meeting held at the secretariat, Rawat said that the modernization of UTC’s fleet will enhance income. “The very objective of modernizing these bus stands is to make them commercially viable to increase income-generation,” said Rawat.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, the CM said that it was also decided that two integrated bus circuits - Dehradun and Haldwani circuits - will be set up within the stipulated time. Dehradun circuit will cover Dehradun-Roorkee-Vikas Nagar route and Haldwani circuit will include Almora, Nainital and nearby places.
Rawat also said that new bus stands in Ramnagar in Nainital district, Kichha in Udham Singh Nagar, Srinagar in Pauri district, Bajpur in Udham Singh Nagar district, Kaleshwar in Rudraprayag district, Bhagwanpura in Haridwar district and one each in Udham Singh Nagar and Champawat district will be formally inaugurated within the next two to three days.
The state government is also working on a plan to develop a separate bus circle at Harrawala, 6 km from Dehradun.
“Once the separate bus circle at Harrawala is formed, it will considerably help bring down the traffic bottleneck and ease vehicular traffic in Dehradun city,” said CM Rawat.
Local residents have hailed the decision to modernize and upgrade the bus stands in state.
“Modernization and upgradation of these bus stands is the need of the hour. This will help passengers enjoy better facilities,” said a senior office-bearer of Uttarakhand Traders Association Pankaj Jain.