Around 500 buses belonging to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan Roadways will depart from ISBT Kashmere Gate again from July 25. These buses were diverted to other ISBTs as renovation was ongoing at Maharana Pratap ISBT at Kashmere Gate till three months ago.
The inauguration of the revamped ISBT at Kashmere Gate took place on May 2, with the Chief Minister equating the facilities available there with those in an airport. “The buses of UP and Uttarakhand roadways were shifted to the ISBT in Anand Vihar while the buses of Rajasthan Roadways were shifted to the ISBT in Sarai Kale Khan,” said a transport official.
At present, 1,400 inter-state buses operate from Kashmere Gate, along with 400 local buses. According to officials, around 300 buses from UP Roadways, over 100 from Uttarakhand Roadways and 90 from Rajasthan Roadways will be added by July 25.
“We are equipped to handle the additional buses. Proper arrival bays have been created for the buses and encroachments around the area surrounding ISBT have been removed to prevent congestion in this area,” an official said.
The renovation was carried out by Delhi Integrated Mutli-modal Transit System (DIMTS) and had overshot several deadlines starting from November 2012. No change has been made to the basic design of this building. The ISBT caters to nearly 2 lakh passengers daily and around 2,000 buses from 12 states operate from this place.
“The renovated building has LCD screens that have been put up in arrival, departure and ticket counter areas to display arrival and departure time of buses. High-speed Wi-Fi is available, apart from a public address system for regular announcements,” the official said.
Phase-II of the project involves construction of three basements in the new block to provide parking for 78 buses, 384 cars and 847 two-wheelers. No decision has been taken on when work will be taken up on the second phase.
src: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/500-more-interstate-buses-to-ply-from-kashmere-gate-next-week/1143309/