Bengaluru: Peenya may get new metro station to boost KSRTC bus terminal connectivity

BENGALURU: To improve connectivity to the unused Rs 40-crore Basaveshwara KSRTC bus terminal in Peenya, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) plans to set up a station on the Green Line (Yelachenahalli - Nagasandra).
Though two stations — Peenya Industry and Jalahalli — are in the vicinity, bus passengers are reluctant to use the terminal because of poor connectivity.
“The new station will be off the main line. The train (from Yelechenahalli side) will take the depot track from Peenya Industry station. Those coming from Nagasandra will have to change at Peenya station. This can be done in 12 months if KSRTC, BMTC and the transport department are willing to use the bus terminal,” BMRCL managing director Ajay Seth said.
According to him, the location of the new station will facilitate an integrated transport hub in Peenya. The entry and exit will be through an FOB connecting the new station and the bus terminus across the road.
BMRCL officials said the new station will integrate various transport modes.“The idea is that KSRTC, BMTC and inter-state public and private buses (coming from Nelamangala side) should use the terminus. The two-acre vacant land can be used for private buses,” an official said.
KSRTC had shelved the plan to shift buses heading to Tumakuru, Pavagada, Davanagere, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru to the terminal due to poor patronage. KSRTC bus station is 1km from Jalahalli Metro station and 1.4km from Peenya Industry station. The proposals for a skywalk and travelator between Metro and bus stations remained on paper.
‘Link metro, bus stations with tram’
An urban planner said it’s not viable to build a new station from an operational line. “The station and signalling system will cost Rs 250 crore. Instead, the terminus can be linked with Peenya Industry or Jalahalli stations using a tram system which may cost Rs 80 crore,” he said.
It could be either monorail or tram feeder service. It could be provided to connect the third coaching terminal at Byappanahalli with SV Road or Byappanahalli stations also, he added.