MARGAO: Around 35,000 square metres of land belonging to Goa State Urban Development Corporation (GSUDA) will be incorporated into the 66,000 sq mts of land over which the KTC bus stand and KTC depot is existing at present to erect the new Fatorda Margao Bus Terminal.
This was decided at the first meeting of the stake holders held on Monday where the Architect Khanna and Associates who have prepared the plan explained salient features of the terminal as prepared by them.
However, as the demand from the various stake holders mainly the different bus owners organization far exceeded what was provided for and as KTC officials strongly advocated against having a parking for idle buses within the bus terminus it was decided to take over the adjoining land belonging to GSUDA where an exhibition plaza was planned.
Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardessai who chaired the meeting said the TCP would even change the zoning of the area since it is a government project aimed to provide utility and service to the people.
The issue of zoning came as the proposed building height was more than what is permitted at the moment. However, Vijai pointed out that in Panjim there is special commercial zone available and something similar could be worked out for this project.
The proposed bus terminus will have two office towers of seven floors each, two retail or shopping blocks having three floors each and a special block for the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited that will have four floors. A five storeyed parking lot is planned that will accommodate 1,330 cars and 1,037 two wheelers; besides 52 auto rickshaws and 56 taxis.
Various stake holders were present for the meeting like the Margao Municipal Council, SGPDA, KTCL, Traffic Police, Collector, Goa Bus Owners Association, All India National & Tourist Bus Operators, Kranti Autorickshaw Association, All Goa Rickshaw Action Committee, Yellow and Black Taxi Association, Margao Taxi Owners Association, Motorcycle Pilots Association.
The various organizations gave their memoranda listing out what they wanted and the architects were asked to look into their demands and see how they can be accommodated. However, the discussions broke down over the bus bays and more specifically parking bays for idle buses.
Collector Anjali Sherawat while pointing out that since the authorities were fining vehicles parked by the road side, it was necessary for the government to provide some parking facilities to the vehicle owners. She also raised the issue of maintenance of the building once it is commissioned.
She also pointed out that the Fire and Emergency Services does not have equipment to deal with any emergency in case the building is 50 metres high and said the safety aspect has to be considered also.
Admitting that maintenance is an aspect that has to be planned, Vijai suggested that if the place available was not sufficient to provide parking of buses specially the inter-state and tourist buses, the land belonging to GSUDA could be taken over.
