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Finally, IMC to build bus stops
AN END finally seems in sight to the acrimonious dispute over the construction of 150 City Bus stops on Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) land, albeit with a fresh twist.
AN END finally seems in sight to the acrimonious dispute over the construction of 150 City Bus stops on Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) land, albeit with a fresh twist.
Collector Vivek Aggarwal today gave the go-ahead to the Corporation to take over the tender process for building the shelters and even agreed to fresh tenders being invited for the project provided the bus stop design remained unchanged.
At a meeting of the Indore City Transport Services Limited (ICTSL) directorial board, Collector and ED Vivek Aggarwal declared that the IMC was free not to house any kiosks at the bus stops. It must, however, devise alternative ways to finance and safeguard the LED-based Passenger Information Systems (PIS) proposed at a third of the 150 shelters.
Far from mollifying it, the olive branch seems to have led the IMC to harden its stance. Mayor-in-Council member in-charge of Public Works Lalit Porwal declared after the meeting that the civic body would cast a fresh look on the bus stop design and may even eschew the PIS altogether.
“Whether the PIS installation is necessary is something that will be decided at an MiC meeting on Saturday. After all each LED set costs Rs 50,000 and we have to be sure whether the expense of Rs 25 lakh incurred on these is, first, justified and secondly, feasible.’’
Mayor Dr Uma Shashi Sharma, IDA Chairman Madhu Verma, SDM and in-charge City Bus service Chandramauli Shukla and Porwal were among those present at the meeting.
According to sources, SDM Chandramauli Shukla declared that the Transport Company was not bothered about who constructed the bus stops as long as they were completed on a priority basis. The City Bus schedule is falling behind owing to the delay in bus stop construction, Shukla is said to have complained.
At this Porwal reportedly declared that the IMC would not allow kiosks at the bus stops at any cost as “these would be converted into tea-stalls and serve as a hub for anti-social elements”.
‘‘As long as the PIS is safeguarded and we earn the money required for it we don’t care whether or not the kiosks are installed.’’ the City Bus official is said to have countered. The meeting concluded with Collector Aggarwal directing the Corporation to ensure speedy construction of the shelters so that City Bus passengers were not inconvenienced.
