Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Aug 19: Only 10 months are left as deadline for the work over the Smart City project to be completed. However, the bus terminal work has not yet begun. Though the tender was called thrice, no one has come forward to take up the work.

It was decided to construct integrated bus terminal and commercial complex at Pumpwell at a cost of Rs 445 crore under the Smart City project. Now the Smart City team has reduced the tender cost by 50% and has called for fresh tender. The terminal’s design will also be changed with the new tender. Opinion of KSRTC and private bus owners is also sought in this matter.

A private land was acquired in 2009 for constructing central bus station at Pumpwell. Mud was filled on the acquired land few years ago. A proposal was made four years ago to install interlocks and shift the existing bus station. However, the project has still not seen the light of the day.

Mangaluru Smart City project should get over by June 2024. However, no contractor has shown interest to take up the work in connection to the bus terminal at Pumpwell. If the tender has to be called freshly, it will take some months. If it is not done before the end of the deadline of Smart City project, the bus terminal may not get materialized.

Arun Prabha, Smart City general manager, says, “We have called the tender thrice for the Pumpwell bus terminal project. No one has shown interest in the same. Now we have reduced the tender amount from Rs 445 crores to Rs 150-200 crore and will call the tender shortly again.”