TURA: Meghalaya Home Minister, James K Sangma on Thursday inaugurated the First ever Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Chasingre in West Garo Hills district the construction of which, was completed some months ago but could not be functional due to various hurdles.
Sangma inaugurated the new facility in the presence of Minister incharge, Urban Affairs, Hamletson Dohling, Chairman, Meghalaya Transport Corporation, J M Sangma, Commissioner and Secretary, Transport Department, M R Synrem, Chairman GHADC, D T Sangma, Executive Member, B Hajong, Director, Urban Affairs, E Kharmalki, officials of the district, Nokma and people of the area.
Speaking on the occasion as Chief Guest, James K Sangma said that it is indeed an iconic and landmark moment for the people of Garo Hills that the First ever ISBT is being inaugurated and also expressed his gratitude to grace this momentous occasion. He recalled that it was the long cherish dream of former Member of Parliament, Late P A Sangma to set up ISBT here in the state and added that this bus terminus would be beneficial to the people of the region.
He informed that the ISBT which was completed in the year 2017 remained un-operational for various reasons and now with the initiative of the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma and Minister Urban Affairs was able to inaugurate and would soon be functional. While stating that the state is striding in various developmental projects in the region, he said that the people should take advantage of this development in the area. Referring to his experiences in earlier days, he said that the ISBT of Tura is much better with scenic view than the other ISBT at Delhi, Shimla, etc.
In his keynote address, Director, Urban Affairs, E Kharmalki stated that due to the increasing population and traffic congestion in the town area, there is a need to relocate the bus station to this present site. Therefore, the department of Urban Affairs has acquired the land around 58 bighas of land from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department for construction of Inter State Bus Terminus at Chasingre, near Tura.
He also mentioned that the project was sanctioned for the amount of Rs. 45 Crores and the execution of construction of the ISBT was entrusted to NBCC (India) Limited formerly, National Building Construction Corporation Limited. As per the plan the project has boarding and alighting bays for 16 nos of vehicles, lay over bays for 21 nos of vehicles, shunting bays for 11 nos of vehicles, local buses for 26 nos, for sumo/taxi 76 nos, cars for 32 nos and more than 50 nos for two wheelers. He mentioned that the project started in December 2012 and was completed in March 2017 and at present the modalities for running the project has been completed.
Minister incharge, Urban Affairs, Hamletson Dohling, Chairman, Meghalaya Transport Corporation, J M Sangma, Commissioner and Secretary, Transport Department, M R Synrem, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Ram Singh, Managing Director, K L Nongbri were among other who spoke on the occasion.