MSRTC to open terminus in Sangvi by October-end

October 28, 2013

Sarang Dastane, TNN

PUNE: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will set up a mini bus terminus in Sangvi in the next two weeks to decentralise movement of buses from its existing terminuses.

MSRTC officials here said that the new terminus would not only help reduce overcrowding of buses at the Shivajinagar terminus, but would also curb traffic congestion on roads adjacent to the terminus. The move will also benefit passengers in Sangvi, Pashan and Aundh, as it will cut down on travel time up to Shivajinagar to catch a bus.

In the initial stage, 36 buses to various cities in north Maharashtra, Konkan, Marathwada and Vidarbha will depart from the Sangvi terminus.

At present, the MSRTC operates buses from the Swargate, Shivajinagar, Pune station and Pimpri terminuses. Swargate has the largest daily operations, followed by Shivajinagar, Pimpri and Pune station.

A senior official from the MSRTC’s Pune division said, “We expect to start daily bus operations from the Sangvi terminus from October 20. Buses will have enough space for parking during night hours. As many as 36 buses will depart from here every day. We will provide platforms and passenger amenities such as sheds, toilets and a waiting lounge. Of the 36 trips, 34 bus trips currently leave from Shivajinagar and Pune station and will be shifted to Sangvi. Operations here will be increased depending on the initial response,” the official said.

The MSRTC also plans to start an advance booking facility for buses departing from the Sangvi terminus.

The official said shifting a part of the operations from Shivajinagar and Pune station was necessary; bus operations at both the stands had reached a critical level due to the increase in the number of trips and lack of space for further expansion. Many a times, buses have to be parked on roads, as drivers do not find space inside the terminus and depot, he said.

Sources said that the city traffic police department has written to the MSRTC administration to shift movement of some buses to the outskirts to ease traffic on city roads. The MSRTC official said that starting the new terminus in the outskirts was part of a plan to reduce the traffic burden in the city.

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