Demand for bus terminus at Collector’s Square gets louder

KOCHI: As the city has been witnessing unprecedented traffic congestion due to the ongoing Metro Rail works, the demand for ways to decongest city roads is getting louder.

Civic experts and representatives of GIDA Bus Stand Action Council have demanded that the proposed Collector’s Square, a bus terminal project near High Court by Goshree Island Development Authority (GIDA) should be constructed.

As the existing Kaloor bus stand will be removed soon, the city is in need of a bus station from where both city buses and long distance buses to northern districts can operate.  

“GIDA, formed for the integrated development of the eight islands surrounding the mainland, has been sitting on the proposal for more than a decade.  It was in 2004 that the plan to construct a bus terminal for the buses coming from the islands and northern areas was mooted. Though GIDA had earmarked land near the High Court, a major portion of the land was taken over by other agencies for various projects,” said Antony Koottungal, action council coordinator.

A meeting of the action council will be convened next week which will decide further steps. A memorandum will be submitted to the chief minister to get the project off the ground at the earliest.

“The Collector’s Square will help to ease traffic congestion by 25 per cent as the buses coming from Aluva can be redirected from Ka-lamassery through Conta-iner Road to reach High Court,” he said.

At present, passengers have to wait for buses under scorching sun and heavy rains in High Court junction as there is no bus shelter. Hundreds of buses terminate at the busy junction resulting in regular traffic congestion.