Looking forward to the enhancing comfort, security and providing better hygiene facilities to the bus passengers, Chandigarh administration has framed a substantial and impressive action plan for the upgradation and renovation of infrastructure at inter-state bus terminals(ISBT) in sectors 17 and 43 of the city.
The plan was finalised in a meeting chaired by UT home secretary Krishna Mohan. The over all face lift of the two ISBTs and provision for the best-available passenger’s facilities in the country will be made. An air conditioned waiting room will be constructed for the passengers entry to which will be on payment basis. Cloak room will be expanded to accommodate more luggage.
Sanitation policy and commercial policy has been changed to bring the ISBTs at par with the highest standards. Modern concepts of sanitation presently being applied to at the airports, five star hotels and IT sector will be implemented at the ISBTs. Sanitation of toilets and housekeeping for the ISBTs will be segregated and will be done by professionally highly-rated and financially strong housekeeping agency for a period of two years.
A change in the commercial policy has been planned according to which commercial units will be licensed through tender for 6 years with 10% annual increase in the license fee. Renowned brands of eateries, coffee shops, ice cream parlours, fruit juice shops, bakery, PCO, ATMs, bookshops, general stores etc will be roped in. Shops will be renovated in such a way that there is enough space to attract prominent brands.
Security personnel’s would be engaged. Control room with CCTV cameras and public address system will be established at the ISBT, sector 17, which will be jointly manned by the personnel of Chandigarh Police and internal security personnel round the clock.
An emergency medical unit will also be established on the bus stand premises. Drinking water points will be designed to minimise the misuse of drinking water. Guide maps and passenger information boards will be installed at the main entrance and other prominent places at the ISBT for the convenience of the passengers.
The maintenance procedure by the engineering department will be streamlined by deploying personnel’s permanently in order to tackle any emergency situation.
An awareness drive wil be launched to motivate the public for keeping the ISBT clean. The CTU inspectors will be vested with power to impose penalties on the people who are found smoking, spitting, littering or dirtying the premises in any manner. The procedure of finalising the overcharging by the vendors will also be streamlined.