In an effort to reduce congestion at the Kashmere Gate inter-State bus terminal(ISBT), Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday  directed complete makeover of the complex. He also ordered that turn-around period of inter-State buses should be reduced from the existing 45 minutes to 30 for faster circulation of buses.

Giving details, Raj Niwas officials said Saxena gave these directions after inspecting Kashmere Gate bus terminus and took stock of the passenger amenities as well as the operation of local and inter-state buses from the terminal.  He later went on a walking inspection of the Rani Jhansi Road from Azad Market to Pusa Road intersection via the Faiz Road intersection and the Idgah.

The LG, who has been for the past one month regularly reviewing the traffic situation in the Capital, was confronted with the issue of massive congestion outside ISBT due to unduly high turn around time of inter-state buses to and from the bus bays inside the Terminal.

He was informed that the minimum turn around time for an inter-state bus currently was 45-60 minutes, which led to spilling over of buses on to the adjoining roads outside the ISBT, which in turn led to traffic snarls.

To this, Saxena directed the Transport Commissioner and DTC to reduce the turn-around time for inter-state buses to 30 minutes that will increase the circulation of buses by over 50%.

At present, ISBT, Kashmere Gate, with a turn-around period of 45 minutes, caters to over 2,600 buses from its 60 bays, that comprises nearly 1,300 inter-state buses, 1,200 DTC and Cluster buses and nearly a hundred All India Tourist Permit buses.  With this turn-around period getting reduced to 30 minutes, ISBT, Kashmere Gate will be able to handle over 1,900 inter-state buses, up from the existing 1300, every day.

Upon witnessing the poor upkeep, maintenance, sanitation and encroachment of passenger ways by unauthorized vendors, the Saxena expressed dissatisfaction and directed the concerned officials to carry out a complete makeover of the Terminal.

He asked for a thorough sprucing up exercise, which includes repair of the false ceiling, broken tiles, greening of the unutilized spaces and removal of stains and litters, to be carried out within 15 days.  MCD and Delhi Police were directed to prevent illegal squatting and clearing of passenger and bus ways.

During his walk on Rani Jhansi Road, the LG came across serious problem of encroachment of the road, disrepair of the pavements and central verges, pathetic condition of the road around the Faiz Road intersection, disrepair of the fortification on the side of the Idgah, stray cattle and absence of traffic police.  All these gravely affected the circulation of traffic on the road resulting in massive traffic jams.

The LG pointed out that the current state-of-affairs was affecting huge areas that include PulBangash, SabziMandi, Azad Market, Sadar Bazar and MalkaGanj amongst others.