Hi-tech bus shelters born with fanfare
The proposal is to construct 34 modern bus shelters across the city at an estimated cost of Rs 8 lakhs
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-11-15 04:45 GMT
Kochi: Even though city residents have been denied basic amenities like bus shelters in the name of multi-crore infrastructure projects, the Public Works Department has come up with ultra modern bus shelters for the city.
Prateeksha Bus Shelters Kerala Ltd (PBSKL) a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the PWD, has introduced a modern bus shelter with all amenities as part of a pilot project. The first of its kind was inaugurated by Minister for Public Works V.K Ebrahim Kunju near the High Court junction in front of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute office. The bus shelters with facilities like drinking water, FM Radio, newspaper stand, wi fi and security camera, has been built with public private partnership.
“The proposal is to construct 34 modern bus shelters across the city at an estimated cost of Rs. 8 lakhs per structure. The company will provide facilities for MPs and MLAs in setting up modern bus shelters in their constituencies with facilities like ATM, mobile phone recharging and newspaper kiosk,” said P.R Santhosh Kumar, managing director of PBSKL.
Even though the modern bus shelter has been launched, city residents are not sure about the proper maintenance of these structures. Though various agencies have set up modern bus shelters in parts of the city, most of them are in a neglected condition.
Responding to the apprehensions, the PBSKL managing director said necessary steps had been taken to ensure regular maintenance of bus shelters. “Special efforts will be taken to prevent vandalism at bus shelters,” he said.
Though PBSKL has announced that the shelters would be strategically placed with spacious waiting areas and minimum interference from pedestrian traffic, there are complaints against its location near the High Court as there is no bus stop in the area.