Peenya bus terminus in Bengaluru may get tech park

BENGALURU: With its Rs 40-crore Basaveshwara bus terminal at Peenya — meant for KSRTC buses heading towards north Karnataka — remaining defunct, the cash-strapped, state-run bus corporation is mulling setting up a software park there.
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) recently floated a tender for selection of a consultant for feasibility studies and transaction advisory services for the construction of office space (software park) and commercial establishments at Peenya under a PPP model.
“The project involves greenfield development of a software park, commercial space in a land to an extent of two acres at Peenya. The said land is next to the bus terminal and Metro depot. There is also a proposal to construct a Metro station adjoining the bus station,” the tender reads.
Many passengers said the location of Peenya bus terminal is wrong. “It’s difficult to reach the terminal from anywhere in the city as it lacks direct Metro connectivity. When most private buses are operating from CBD areas, why will someone go to Peenya bus terminal to board a bus? No wonder the bus terminal has now become a white elephant,” said Sathish A, a regular KSRTC passenger.
In 2020, BMRCL had planned to set up a new station at the Peenya terminal. Though two Metro stations — Peenya Industry and Jalahalli — are in the vicinity, passengers are reluctant to use the terminal because of poor connectivity.
Due to poor patronage, KSRTC had shelved the plan to shift buses heading to Tumakuru, Pavagada, Davanagere, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru to the terminal. KSRTC bus station is 1km from Jalahalli Metro station and 1.4km from Peenya Industry station. However, proposals for a skywalk and travelator between Metro and bus stations remained on paper. Currently, Kerala State Transport Corporation is operating some schedules from Peenya.
Similarly, KSRTC floated a tender for the greenfield development of an office space and residential area in one acre of land at Wilson Garden on PPP basis. In Deepanjalinagar, it decided to construct a commercial complex and passenger amenity centre. “The proposed site is next to the Metro station. We are planning to develop this project on a PPP basis,” said an official.