BMTC: 45 TTMCs to ease traffic congestion

Aims at addressing pollution woes and providing better public transport services

This was announced by Transport Minister R Ashok after inspecting the Transit Terminus at Shantinagar here on Friday.

In its first phase, the City will see 10 locations being taken up for the construction of these TTMCs under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. The first of the TTMCs will come up in Jayanagar by June 2009. BMTC officials and Minister Ashok have said that the works for the rest of the nine projects in the first phase have begun and tenders have already been invited for them.

The BMTC has slated the completion of the first phase by June 2010 at an estimated cost of Rs 444 crore. The TTMCs, apart from being bus maintenance facilities, will double up as public amenities location along with parking facilities etc. The Transport Minister believes that the TTMCs will in the long run address issues with regard to traffic congestion and environmental concerns (air pollution).  “In case of Jayanagar owing to the land constraint, geometrical shape and strategic location, the existing land use for bus terminal has been retained at ground level besides making provision for public amenities and limited parking facilities,” the BMTC has said.

Apart from these, the Transport Minister also unveiled plans for the development of Mysore transport system with a sum of Rs 100 crore earmarked for the city.

Lacking publicity

As he lauded the “Big Ten” buses, Ashok also admitted that the “Kendriya Sarige” was not a great success. “We have been lacking in publicity for the Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) bus service. It needs to be looked into,” said Ashok.

When asked if he was satisfied with the maintenance of the BMTC buses, Ashok said that he was just a 10-month old child in this department and still has a long way to go.