HSR needs a bus stand

Shift the bus depot or the secondary collection point for it, say residents

By ZAHID H JAVALI

There is much discussion on the residents requiring a proper bus stand in HSR Layout. Earlier, the only bus stand was on 24th Main opposite Airtel office. Many years later, it was shifted down the road closer to Somasundrapalya, while all the airport buses take off from the one opposite BDA Complex. However, the dream of residents to have a full-fledged bus stand has not materialised yet.

The Federation of HSR Layout Residents Welfare Association (RWA) proposed a bus stand in the area, which is today a tree park near Subramanya temple in Sector 3. The Sector 2 RWA proposed one on 19th Main many years ago, but that didn’t work out either.

We have a suggestion that could be better. How about shifting the bus depot in Sector 4 to somewhere on Sarjapur Road and having a full-fledged bus stand in its place. If the depot can’t be shifted for some reason, then they could turn it into a multi-storey building that is home to the buses and the bus stand, just like they have done in Wilson Garden.

In addition, they could go in for public parking on several floors. This would provide parking space in the centre of HSR and closer to the Outer Ring Road. Since it’s proximity is towards the Outer Ring Road, getting in and out of the neighbourhood would be much simpler. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation can run mini buses within HSR and long-distance buses at the bus stand. It would make for the most perfect public transport hub.

It would work well, when the proposed metro line comes up on Outer Ring Road. If there is a stop at Mantri Sarovar, people can just get down and hop on to a feeder bus and get as close to their house without relying on an auto.

When we mentioned this idea to Vijayalakshmi Anand, President, Sector 4 Residents Welfare Association, she was all for it. “The bus depot idea is a good one,” she said. “I haven’t heard anyone come up with that idea.” She has another idea, too. “We have already given a letter to the authorities to convert the secondary garbage collection point near Freedom International School as a bus stand.”

That is also a good idea and a much more achievable plan. However, nobody wants a garbage collection point near their house. So where will the secondary point go? We asked Vinod GM, HSR health inspector, and he said, “We tried to shift it to the service road on Hosur Road, but since the land was under litigation, we were not able to.” Sources in the BBMP tell us that efforts are being made to find an alternative area for the garbage collection point.

But until then, the residents will have to wait. After the point is shifted, BBMP could hand the land over to the BMTC to set up a bus stand, as proposed by the Sector 4 RWA.