Govt hardsells Dwarka ISBT to investors

To sell its inter-state bus terminal (ISBT) project at Dwarka, which the Delhi Government wants to construct on Public-Private-Participation (PPP) basis, the transport department organised an investors' meet at the India Habitat Centre on Thursday.

Over 30 real estate developers participated in the meet and interacted with the transport department and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit Systems (DIMTS), the agency given the responsibility to re-model three existing ISBTs and construct two new on a PPP basis.

Transport and DIMTS officials also explained the concept and features of the project to the prospective investors.

"The investors' meet was aimed at having a direct interaction with the potential investors regarding salient features of the project and the bidding process already underway," a senior transport department official said.

According to officials, the request for qualification (RFQ) document has already been released for the project and interested agencies have to submit their proposal till June 23, 2008.

Delhi transport commissioner R.K.Verma emphasised the need for modern, high quality, international standards multi-modal centres.

DIMTS managing director SN Sahai talked about the need of directional bus terminals for Delhi keeping in view the increase in number of buses. He gave a brief introduction about the Dwarka ISBT project.