Intercity transport to be revamped

APSRTC okays 15 new terminals within the HMA area, concurring with the CTS

The city is expanding. In due course of time, even the GHMC limits would be obsolete. With the ever expanding city population, there is an urgent need for better and revamped mode of public transport.

As part of Comprehensive Transportation Study (CTS), a detailed study was undertaken on the current transportation modes of the city. With 600 vehicles hitting the streets every day, there is a need to develop infrastructure as well.

It is imperative to keep long distance intercity travel in mind while developing infrastructure. Hyderabad Metropolitan Area (HMA), covering an area of 7,200 sq km, generates large amount of traffic. Intercity travel needs are largely served by the APSRTC, adjoining state government bus transport undertakings and private establishments.

The total number of vehicles in the city have increased from 86,170 in 2003 to 1,41,799 in 2011. With 600 new vehicles hitting the roads every day, one can say that intercity traffic is increasing rapidly and is expected to grow further. With the increase in number of vehicles, there is a need to develop the necessary infrastructure too. Intercity traffic, particularly buses, requires terminal facilities.

HMA intercity traffic is served by 15 bus terminals, three rail terminals and an airport. Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) are major hubs of APSRTC for long distance travel to and from HMA. In addition to the above two, various satellite terminals serve the needs of the long‐distance travel by the APSRTC, private and other state RTC services. These satellite terminals mostly do not have designated terminal facilities to serve the cause, but attract a lot of passengers from surrounding areas.

Study undertaken as a part of CTS identified the need for additional bus terminals outside the GHMC. The assessment was also done at the existing bus terminals.

Infrastructure Assessment

Basic infrastructure facilities such as waiting hall, drinking water facility etc, are absent especially at LB Nagar, BHEL and Uppal bus stations, whereas for other terminals like KPHB, Mehdipatnam, and Lakdikapul, the terminal amenities are inadequate.

Parking facility for private vehicles either do not exist or are highly inadequate at all the terminals.

The following is the summary of additional requirements of infrastructure facilities for each terminal/stand.

MGBS

Planning of additional 30 bus bays

Increasing the waiting hall capacity

Increase the parking facility for two wheelers

Improve geometry at the entry and exit points

JBS

Planning additional 17 bus bays

Increasing the waiting hall capacity

Improve geometry at the entry and exit points

KPHB

Restricting private bus operators entering the terminal

Planning designing and implementation of 7 Bus bays

Provision of waiting hall facility for passengers

Provision of other infrastructure facilities such as urinals/toilets, drinking water facility

Uppal

Planning, designing and implementation of bus bays

Provision of waiting hall facility for passengers

Provision of other infrastructure facilities such as urinals/toilets, drinking water facility

Provision of adequate parking facility for autos, cabs and two-wheelers

LB Nagar

Planning designing and implementation of bus bays

Provision of adequate space for waiting hall

Provision of other infrastructure facilities such as urinals/toilets, drinking water facility

Provision of adequate parking facility for autos, cabs and two-wheelers

Dilsukhnagar

Planning designing and implementation of additional bus bays

Provision of waiting hall facility for passengers

Lakdikapul

Planning designing and implementation of additional bus bays.

Provision of waiting hall facility for passengers

Provision of other infrastructure facilities such as urinals/toilets, drinking water facility

Mehdipatnam

Planning designing and implementation of additional bus bays.

Provision of waiting hall facility for passengers

Provision of other infrastructure facilities such as urinals/toilets, drinking water facility

Provision of adequate parking facility for autos, cabs and two-wheelers

Jeedimetla

Planning designing and implementation of 5 Bus bays.

Provision of waiting hall facility for passengers

Provision of other infrastructure facilities such as urinals/toilets, drinking water facility

­­­­ Provision of adequate parking facility for autos, cabs and two-wheelers

Terminal Requirements

As per UDPFI norms, one inter-state level bus terminal is required for every 1.5 lakh passengers per day. Also, recent planning efforts in various cities across India, suggests that a major terminal is needed for every 0.5 lakh passengers per day. With an average occupancy of 37 for a running bus, as observed at the outer and inner cordons, a number of passenger interactions in HMA is about 3.9 lakh passenger per day using buses.

Committed Terminal Proposals by APSRTC

The APSRTC is planning to construct 15 more bus depots and 20 bus terminals to offer better service to commuters and in tune with Greater Hyderabad's development.

Authorities have identified land at Koheda‐ Pasumamula, Narsinghi, Mankhal – Srinagar, Muthangi – Patancheru, Edulanagulapalli, Dommarpochampally, Moinabad, Pocharam – Ghatkesar, Upparpally, Borabanda, Qutubllapur, KPHB IV Phase, Bhoodanpochampally, Balajinagar, Katedan – Madhuban Colony for construction of 15 new bus depots.

Authorities have already drafted a development plan and it is proposed to have 50 bus depots and 5000 bus fleet in Greater Hyderabad limits by 2014. Presently, 24 bus depots are under operation and six depots, including those at Kacheguda, Bandlaguda, Farookhnagar, Chengicherla, Shamshabad and Gandi Mysamma are under construction.

20 new terminals are proposed at Thorrur, Cheryal, Dharmaram, Bowrampet, Aylaipur, Gowdavelli, Dundigal, Rampalli, Sulthanpur, Karadanur, Patighanpur, Thukkuguda, Kollur, Balapur, Nadergul, Chilukur, Munaganur, Kuntlur, Korremula, Kondaur.