Mangaluru: J.R. Lobo, MLA, Mangaluru City South said that the concept plan for the bus stand proposed at the Pumpwell for private buses will get ready before Republic Day. The MLA said that the two private agencies will submit separate concept plans.

After inspecting the land along with the Mayor Mahabala Marla and senior officials of the Mangaluru City Corporation on Tuesday, he said that the stand would be built on a 7.23-acre area within two-and-a-half years and the acquisition of land for the purpose has been stopped for the time being. A proposal to acquire 11 more acres nearby has also been dropped, he added.

He further said that the proposed bus stand would be for other buses, which is now operated from the State Bank of India bus terminus.

He also suggested that the construction of three-level bus stand, with a ground floor and two floors, would be helpful in the long run. Service buses (which operate outside the city jurisdiction) and express buses to Moodbidri could be operated from the first floor.

Buses to Puttur, Kasaragod and Dharmasthala could be handled on another floor and the third floor would be reserved for buses operating between Udupi, Kundapur and the city. In addition there should also be a separate parking facility in the bus stand for taxis and auto rickshaws.

Lobo said that there are 525 buses, including KSRTC that operate from the SBI terminus daily, making 2,500 trips a day. About 150 buses are parked daily in the vicinity of the SBI terminus and once the proposed bus stand at the Pumpwell gets ready, it would be able to take this parking load.

He also said that there is a proposal to build an underpass below the National Highway 66 to connect the proposed bus stand. Bank loans and government grants will be availed of to fund the project, he added

Mayor said that the approval of the corporation council would be obtained once the concept plan is ready. He also said that the approval of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would also be sought since the bus stand would be close to the highway.

The commissioner of the corporation Hephsiba Rani Korlapati said that all efforts would be made to get the concept plan ready by January 26.