CMDA prepares Rs 376 crore blueprint for Vandalur bus terminus

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has prepared Rs 376 crore blueprint for the construction of moffusil bus terminus in Vandalur and acquisition of 65.30 acre of land.

Sources told Express that the proposal to build the bus terminal mostly in the wetland is before the state government for the final approval.

Initially, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority passed an authority resolution on March 2013 proposing an investment of Rs 320 crore to be spent over a period of four years. This included fixing the proposed land cost at Rs 1 crore per acre and development cost at Rs 4 crore per acre.

Interestingly, the Kanchipuram district collector felt that the land cost in the area should be fixed at Rs 1.75 crore per acre as the highest prevailing guideline value and the prevailing market value in and around Vandalur village is believed to be around Rs 4.5 crore.

Following which CMDA revised the total investment, which is roughly around Rs 376 crore. This includes the proposed land cost at Rs 1.75 crore per acre and the proposed development cost at Rs 4 crore per acre besides preparation of detailed project report by the consultant. Fifty per cent of the fund is likely to be spent on infrastructure and amenities, sources said.

Interestingly, the site identified for the moffusil bus terminus is classified as wetland and it is geographically placed at a strategic location in view of its proximity to NH45 (GST Road) and Outer Ring Road. The site abuts Vandalur-Walajabad State Highway and is about 1 km from National Highway 45 and 250 metre from ORR, sources said.

Sources said as per the proposal CMDA has proposed to create a separate unit for land acquisition since almost 95 per cent of land is patta land. Since the land is wet land, Inevitability Certificate from the Kanchipuram district collector is required. Also the land use as per the second master plan is primary, residential and mixed residential which require reclassification to institutional use for developing moffusil bus terminus.

The proposal has also added various revenue options like collection of user charges from the transport corporations, parking charges and rent from the public amenities.

It is proposed that transport corporations like SETC and MTC, who will be the user agencies will have to pay user charges to CMDA for utilizing the bus terminal. Sources said that plans are also on to use a small portion of land for setting up a commercial complex.

It is also believed that the entry and exit points of the terminus will be from the Vandalur-Walajabad Road only and as an alternate the service road provided along Outer Ring Road may also be accessed.