Mangaluru : As a step forward in the move to construct a terminal (bus stand) for private buses at Pumpwell Circle, a meeting chaired by B. Ramanath Rai, Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada, here on Saturday gave in-principle approval to the concept plan prepared by a private consultant.

Mr. Rai instructed officials to take steps to place the proposal before the Council of Mangaluru City Corporation at the earliest and get its approval for moving the proposal further forward at the government level.

Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim said that the corporation might be asked to call a special meeting to give approval to the proposal.

A representative of the consultant agency, Kumarachandra Associates, told the meeting that the construction of the bus terminal might cost Rs. 49 crore as per the plan prepared by the agency.

He said that it has been prepared after holding a preliminary discussion with the officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader, Minister of State for Youth Empowerment and Sports and Fisheries K. Abhayachandra Jain, Mangaluru City South MLA J.R. Lobo, Mangaluru City North MLA Mohiuddin Bava took part in the meeting. After the presentation by the consultant, Mr. Jain remarked: “Super”.

Mr. Khader said that the NHAI would have to be taken into confidence before going ahead with the project as the bus stand would come up close to the National Highway 66.

The consultant said that as per the plan, 76 buses could be parked at a time in three levels (floors). Mr. Ibrahim said that it would be three times more than the facility now at the State Bank of India bus terminus.

The consultant said that a commercial building could be built, attached to the three floors. Parking for 120 cars could be provided in the building in two floors.

Above these two floors, there would be shops. He said that the entry to the terminal would be from the Nanthoor side and the exit would be towards the Pumpwell Circle side. An underpass would have to be built to allow buses coming from the Kasaragod and Puttur side to reach the ground floor. Buses from Udupi and Karkala, Moodbidri side would have to enter the terminal through another entrance to reach the two floors.

Mr. Khader said that it would not be a problem to get Rs. 49 crore from the government. Mr. Lobo said that the fund could also be raised under public-private participation (PPP) model or through loan.