Public – private partnership to maintain bus stands

The Coimbatore Corporation plans to carry out the operation and maintenance of five bus stands in the city on a public private partnership.

Apart from the operation of the stands in terms of the use by the buses, keeping the stands clean and the amenities for the public in good condition will be the task of the operator identified for the purpose.

Five selected

The bus stands are: Central Bus Stand and Town Bus Stand at Gandhipuram, Ukkadam Bus Stand, Singanallur Bus Stand and the Omni Bus Stand on Sathyamangalam Road.

The Corporation already had plans to take the PPP route for the maintenance of the new bus stand on Mettupalayam Road from which services on the Udhagamandalam route will be operated.

The Corporation Council recently approved a proposal to invite bids from eligible consultants for taking up the preparation of a detailed project report, feasibility report and concession agreement.

The Corporation says it wants to take up the PPP arrangement because it does not have enough workers to maintain the stands.

Commissioner Anshul Mishra said on Wednesday that staff at different levels were needed exclusively for the operation and maintenance of the stands.

The Corporation's staff, who had various other task, would not be able to handle this responsibility also.

Parking fee

The lessees chosen to carry out the operation and maintenance of the stands would also collect the fee for the parking of buses at the bays and for the vehicles parked at the lots earmarked for them on the premises.

Earlier, different lessees were identified for various areas of maintenance.

This had hit sanitation in the stands. Now, only one lessee would be entrusted with the entire operation and maintenance and sanitation would be one of the priority areas.

 Source-Hindu