Full-fledged operations at ISBT delayed to Jan

SHILLONG, Dec 9: Around four months after an extravagant inauguration by Home Minister Amit Shah, state Transport Minister Dasakhiatbha Lamare stated on Thursday that Meghalaya has to wait until January for the multi-crore Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) project to be fully ready for operation and usage.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on its status, Lamare said that he is hoping to make the ISBT functional before Meghalaya celebrates its 50th Statehood Day on January 21.
According to him, the delay has been caused due to issues with the tendering process as a result of which they are introducing some changes that will attract more revenue and benefits for the local populace.
Lamare further informed that more meetings and discussions with the state Law department as well as Meghalaya Transport Corporation are under way to make the ISBT and the airport functional at the earliest.
Adding that the department plans to outsource the ISBT services, Lamare mentioned that the terminus is being constructed with a total cost of Rs 48.31 crore funded by the North Eastern Council. As per his statement, following the grand inauguration of the ISBT, the transport department had handed it over to the Meghalaya Transport Corporation for making it functional.