Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada District in-charge minister B. Ramanath Rai along with concerned authorities gave approval to the concept plan prepared by a private consultant to construct a terminal (bus stand) for private buses at Pumpwell Circle. 

Chairing the meeting here on Saturday, Mr. Rai instructed officials to place the proposal before the Council of Mangaluru City Corporation and promised to move further forward at the government level.

Meantime, Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim said that the corporation might be asked to call a special meeting to give approval to the proposal.

Kumarachandra Associates, a representative of the consultant agency said that the the construction of the bus terminal might cost Rs. 49 crore. He said that it has been prepared after holding a preliminary discussion with the officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

He said that as per the plan, 76 buses could be parked at a time in three levels (floors). A commercial building could be built, attached to the three floors. Parking for 120 cars could be provided in the building in two floors, he added.

Above these two floors, there would be shops. He said that the entry to the terminal would be from the Nanthoor side and the exit would be towards the Pumpwell Circle side. An underpass would have to be built to allow buses coming from the Kasaragod and Puttur side to reach the ground floor. Buses from Udupi and Karkala, Moodbidri side would have to enter the terminal through another entrance to reach the two floors.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader, Minister of State for Youth Empowerment and Sports and Fisheries K. Abhayachandra Jain, Mangaluru City South MLA J.R. Lobo, Mangaluru City North MLA Mohiuddin Bava were present in the meeting.

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