The modernisation project is aimed at decongesting the Chennai Contract Carriage Bus Terminus in Koyambedu. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, who is taking up the project, is likely to opt for a proposal under which 250 bus bays will be constructed.
Three options were submitted to the CMDA. Our of which the proposal for a three-level bus bay, including a basement floor, with 81,749 sq metre commercial space has been found viable according to the vice-chairperson Susan Mathew.
“The commercial space of the terminus will have retail supermarket, fast food centres, book and magazine shops and kiosks, chemists, restaurants, food court, health centre, showrooms, logistics and courier agencies,” she added.
The cost of the project is estimated to be Rs.219 crore. The project would be implemented on the public private partnership mode in which the private entity would design, finance, construct and transfer after a period of time.
The expansion would cover space for idle parking of 150 buses in the basement. The ground floor would have 75 operational bus bays and the first floor would have 25 bays.
The re-developed Chennai Contract Carriage Bus Terminus is likely to have 14,417 sq m of terminal area, 16,598 sq m for idle parking, 4,010 sq m driveways, and 28,606 sq m commercial office, 9,548 sq m of retail space and 8,570 sq m of hotel. The terminus was inaugurated in August 2003. It has 68 boarding bus bays and 126 bays for idle parking, 51 travel agency offices, 22 shops and 14 passenger waiting halls with a capacity to seat 120 persons.