WITH NEW BUS STAND VALPOI WILL BE FREE OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION

VALPOI: Work on the second phase of Valpoi bus stand project is ongoing on a war footing, with authorities constantly monitoring the work nearly round the clock. The project once completed will ease the traffic chaos that Valpoi is currently witness to.

The GSIDC took up the construction of the bus stand, primarily to solve the problem of parking and also as improved infrastructure. The foundation stone was laid on December 29, 2006, at the Velus-Nagargao road and the area allocated for the project is about 17,500 sq mt. The project is within the jurisdiction of ward 2 of Valpoi Minicipal Council. The first phase of land development was completed on February 3, 2009. The project is estimated to cost about Rs 7 crore and is being set up over 2.5 acres of land.

Mr Ramdas Shirodker, councillor of ward 2 said that it was proposed to construct a modern bus stand having the maximum facilities for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. "At present the town is lacking a proper bus stand and buses halt in the middle of the road, to pick up and disembark passengers. This creates traffic congestion regularly and on the market day the situation is worse." He added that when the bus terminus becomes operational, the traffic congestion would disappear.

As per the details furnished by a source in the GSIDC, phase two, which comprises of civil work, began on November 25, 2010. The whole project is designed with commuter/passenger safety and convenience in mind, on the concept of one-way traffic flow, maintaining a left side alignment for convenience of boarding and alighting.

There will be separate entry points for buses and other vehicles, to ensure unobstructed and efficient traffic movement. Keeping in mind the schedules of buses, provision of 10 bays have been made and in addition to these, another 10 bays are provided for idle parking. The bus stand also has provision of nine rickshaws, five taxis and 14 motorcycles pilots near the alighting bays.

The private vehicles have a separate entry and exit point and parking facility that can accommodate 115 two wheelers and 39 four-wheelers.

The project is also designed to accommodate four shops, a restaurant, adequate toilets and water closets, waiting area, ticketing offices, restrooms and canteen facility.

The highlight of the project is a multipurpose hall that can be engaged to hold marriage ceremonies or used as an auditorium, which has a seating capacity of 1500 persons, with allied facilities. This however will be constructed taking into consideration the financial feasibility and the ensuing independent functioning. For these an additional area of 2000 sq mt has been reserved for parking.

The roads within the bus stand will be of concrete and lighting for the entire bus stand will be based on light sensing technology, which turns on the light at dusk and shuts off at dawn. The bus stand is disable-friendly as the provision of ramps, anti-skid tiles and disable friendly bathrooms and railings are the salient features of this project.