Regular users of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus services will soon be able to drive into the nearest bus depot in a car or two-wheeler, leave the vehicle behind, and take a bus.
The MTC, which caters to 56 lakh commuters every day, is in the process of preparing a project report to study the feasibility of developing ‘transit hubs' at three of its depots — Thiruvanmiyur, Vadapalani and T.Nagar.
A senior MTC official said that the Traffic and Transit Management Centres (TTMCs) are aimed at addressing the “last-mile” connectivity problem faced by a majority of the city's residents. Once the “park and ride” facilities are provided inside depots, a greater section of people would be able to access public transport options and MTC ridership would improve, he said.
The scheme will be modelled after a similar programme currently being executed in Bangalore, where 10 such TTMCs are under construction. The hubs would be all-in-one centres, equipped with facilities such as a bus station, mini-shopping centres, medical assistance, food courts and ATMs. Each hub is expected to cost between Rs.10 crore and 15 crore.
Since funding through the JNNURM scheme has dried up, officials said that a public-private partnership model, employing a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and transfer (DBFOT) model, is being explored. According to the official, while the ground floor area would be retained as a depot, extra amenities and commercial space would be provided on the first floor.
“Once a private partner is identified, efforts would also be made to streamline traffic movement in the vicinity of the depots. Dedicated pathways would be provided and the moving space within the depot complex would be better utilised,” the official added.
