Gaya to get swanky new bus terminal, says transport secy

Patna: State transport department secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal on Sunday announced plans for a swanky new interstate bus terminal in Gaya during an inspection of the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation’s divisional office and bus stand on Sunday. He asked the building construction department to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the new terminal within two months.
“The new terminal will be spread over 4.95 acres of land and will feature modern infrastructure, passenger amenities and parking for 100 buses,” Agarwal said.

“Once the DPR is completed, we will submit the proposal to the state govt. Construction will commence after receiving govt approval and funding,” he added.
According to the initial plan, the terminal will be a two-storey building equipped with parking bays, electric charging points for e-buses, ticketing counters, a lounge, waiting areas, a cafeteria, an automatic display board showing bus routes and timings, ATMs, drinking water facilities and toilets.
The existing bus stand and divisional office are in poor condition and prone to waterlogging with buses parked haphazardly, causing passenger inconvenience. Agarwal asked the officials concerned to demolish the old structure and ensure clean drinking water and a waterlogged-free environment for passengers.
“The maximum area should be utilised for parking, vehicle operation and passenger convenience,” he said.
Agarwal also ordered identification of key routes and destinations for interstate services and to form agreements with transport corporations from other states.
“Gaya is an important place for religious and tourism purposes. We need to identify important routes for different states and coordinate with their transport corporations accordingly,” Agarwal added.
Agarwal also ordered the scrapping of 15 outdated and non-operational buses at the Gaya bus stand and called for separate entry and exit points for vehicles.
“The department will also launch 50 e-buses in Gaya under the PM e-bus seva scheme. A total of 500 buses are being procured under this scheme by the Bihar govt,” he said.