Port Blair, May 24: The State Transport Department is focused towards providing reliable, comfortable and sustainable Public Transport to the general public of these Islands. To further achieve these goals, the Department has constructed a new ‘Mini Bus Terminus’ at Campbell Bay. The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS as the chief guest inaugurated the Bus Terminus through virtual mode at a brief function held in the conference hall of A&N Secretariat today.
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary(Transport), A&N Administration, Shri Nikhil Kumar, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, A&N Administration, Smt. Nandini Paliwal, IAS, the Secretary, Transport, Shri Vishwendra, Senior Officers of the A&N Administration were present on the occasion while, the AC Campbell Bay, HoDs of the Line Department and general public of Campbell Bay participated in the event through virtual mode.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Secretary congratulated the people of Campbell Bay for getting a very architecturally designed spacious infrastructure in the form of a ‘Mini Bus Terminus’ and also appreciated all the officers of the Transport and PWD Departments for devising the plan and timely execution of the project. The Chief Secretary further said that though the number of buses in Campbell Bay is presently11but it will be increased gradually in the coming years. He appreciated the effort of the Transport Department in providing the much needed facility for the people of the Southernmost Island of A&N archipelago. The Chief Secretary said, now the people of Campbell Bay can avail buses for different locations from the newly built Bus Terminus and comfortably access buses, especially during the rainy season.
The Chief Secretary further urged the Transport Department for better upkeep/maintenance of the newly created asset. He also urged people of Campbell Bay to make better use of this facility and keep the new Mini Bus Terminus building premises spick and span.
The Chief Secretary also interacted with the Assistant Commissioner, Campbell Bay through virtual mode and enquired about the additional requirement with regard to Transport Department at Campbell Bay.
Earlier, welcoming the Chief Secretary and others present on the occasion, the Secretary (Transport), Shri Vishwendra said that STS Campbell Bay is having a fleet strength of 11 buses operating in 6 routes with an average daily ridership of 710 passengers. Bus Terminus, Campbell Bay is a vital element of multimodal transport that would contribute to people’s accessibility to places with the modes of travel. It would interconnect particularly for pedestrians, ship bound passengers and automobiles critical to enhancing people’s overall accessibility to the bus network, people’s transferability within the bus network, key modes connecting bus service network to other mobility networks and ultimately people’s ability to reach their desired destination, he said.
The Secretary further said that for the construction of Bus Terminus with waiting hall and transit accommodation at STS Unit Campbell Bay, an amount of Rs.2.38 Crs. has been incurred. The new Terminal Building has a provision of waiting hall for 100 passengers and two Bus Parking Bays, Oil Room, Office Room, Garage, Enquiry Counter in the ground floor and RTO Office in the first floor. Apart from this, it has also provision for Officers Room, Transit Accommodation in the form of dormitory having ten beds with kitchen and Store Room, he added.
The Director, Transport, Dr. Jatinder Sohal proposed the vote of thanks on the occasion.
The completion and inauguration of Mini Bus Terminus would promote the holistic development in this far flung Island which would make the Public Transport System organized, fully integrated and inter-modal allowing travellers and freight to switch seamlessly between modes and across the Island. It would ensure convenient, economic, reliant and safe mobility to local populace such as school children, office staff and patient for health purpose. It would improve the living standards of the citizens, reduce logistic cost, create avenues for employment and catalyze economic development by boosting travel & trade.