Siliguri, August 14.TT: The north
Bengal development department and NBSTC have decided to provide a
facelift to Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus here and utilise the
infrastructure to generate funds for the transport corporation that has
been incurring losses for almost 15 years now.
North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, who held a meeting with NBSTC officials here today, said: “We will refurbish the TNCBT premises, improve passengers’ amenities and develop the infrastructure to generate revenue for the NBSTC.”
The bus depot along Hill Cart Road and adjacent to the Siliguri Junction station is owned by the NBSTC. It is the largest bus terminus in north Bengal.
The compound has shops, washrooms, lodges and separate bays for government and private buses .
According to Deb, another floor would be constructed above the two-storied building of the bus terminus and it would be used for commercial purposes, most likely in association with private entrepreneurs.
“It has been decided that 30 Volvo buses would be bought for which, the north Bengal development department will allocate Rs 1.5 crore. The remaining amount will be collected by selling (NBSTC) buses that have become old. The new buses will ply on profitable and popular routes,” said the minister.
“We have an agreement with Sikkim according to which we can run up to 20 buses per day to the state. Now only two buses ply to Sikkim from here everyday. But that will change soon. Bus services to the neighbouring states of Assam and Bihar will also commence shortly. During Durga Puja, NBSTC will provide services for tourists from TNCBT and New Jalpaiguri station. These buses will travel to different destinations in the hills and plains,” Deb added.
The minister also held a meeting with local tour operators today..
“We have decided to set up helpdesks for tourists at different transit points in town. A consistent monitoring mechanism would be developed to prevent unethical practices like overcharging by transporters or hoteliers,” Deb said after the meeting.
North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, who held a meeting with NBSTC officials here today, said: “We will refurbish the TNCBT premises, improve passengers’ amenities and develop the infrastructure to generate revenue for the NBSTC.”
The bus depot along Hill Cart Road and adjacent to the Siliguri Junction station is owned by the NBSTC. It is the largest bus terminus in north Bengal.
The compound has shops, washrooms, lodges and separate bays for government and private buses .
According to Deb, another floor would be constructed above the two-storied building of the bus terminus and it would be used for commercial purposes, most likely in association with private entrepreneurs.
“It has been decided that 30 Volvo buses would be bought for which, the north Bengal development department will allocate Rs 1.5 crore. The remaining amount will be collected by selling (NBSTC) buses that have become old. The new buses will ply on profitable and popular routes,” said the minister.
“We have an agreement with Sikkim according to which we can run up to 20 buses per day to the state. Now only two buses ply to Sikkim from here everyday. But that will change soon. Bus services to the neighbouring states of Assam and Bihar will also commence shortly. During Durga Puja, NBSTC will provide services for tourists from TNCBT and New Jalpaiguri station. These buses will travel to different destinations in the hills and plains,” Deb added.
The minister also held a meeting with local tour operators today..
“We have decided to set up helpdesks for tourists at different transit points in town. A consistent monitoring mechanism would be developed to prevent unethical practices like overcharging by transporters or hoteliers,” Deb said after the meeting.
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