‘Smart City’ getting ‘Smart’ by Constructing Unique 46 ‘Smart Bus Shelters’

‘Smart City’ getting ‘Smart’ by Constructing Unique 46 ‘Smart Bus Shelters’

Mangaluru: When there are quite a few existing bus shelters in the city, which are not being utilized by the commuters other than homeless or stray animals, since they are constructed in spots where the buses don’t stop- and now Mangaluru City Corporation has begun constructing nine bus shelters in the city under Smart City mission . They are part of the 46 proposed to be constructed in the city under the mission, according to Mohammed Nazir, managing director, Mangaluru Smart City Ltd., a special purpose vehicle, a company floated for implementing the projects under the mission.

The shelters would be of three types-Type A would have an e-toilet and would be 13.5 m long. Type B would have no e-toilet and they would be 11.5 m long. Type C also would have no e-toilet and their length would be 8.5 m. All shelters would have a common width of 2.4 m. In addition, all of them would have interactive display and real-time indicator in common, as per Nazir, who is also the Commissioner of Mangaluru City Corporation, mentioning that of the nine shelters, A type shelters would come up in front of St. Agnes College and near Hotel Lalith International in Surathkal. B type shelters would be built at Kavoor Junction, Mullakadu, Mannagudda Gurji Centre, Panjimogaru-Vidyanagar Cross, near Bharat Mall and at KIADB Baikampady Industrial Area. A C type shelter would come up at Paldane.

It is learnt that the construction of shelters at Bharat Mall, Surathkal and Baikampady have temporarily come to a halt due to land issues. In addition, eight bus shelters along Nehru Maidan Road between Clock Tower and A.B. Shetty Circle would be rebuilt under the mission. But while few of these Smart Bus Shelters are being constructed there have been already problems which the MCC is facing from a few residents and entrepreneurs who are against such huge bus shelters that take the beauty of their property and surroundings.

Sources reveal that out of the 46 places that these Bus Shelters have been planned, MCC is facing some objections from residents, educational institutions and commercial buildings in at least 37 places. Even though these Smart Bus Shelters look neat, but many residents are not happy with the structure, saying that they obstruct the view of their property and which eventually may bring down its market. The bus shelter works are taken up at a cost of Rs four crore.

Residents are also putting pressure on their ward corporators to shift the shelters to a different spot, which the MCC is finding hard to find suitable places elsewhere. And it is learnt that these corporators are taking it easy and listening to these residents, since the MCC election is nearing in few months. In the meantime, MCC Mayor Bhasker Moily has ruled out any pressure to shift the bus shelters and dismissed people’s opposition to the developmental work as “irrational”. While the work on these new bus shelters is going on in full swing at some places, but its still hanging in balance in several others. Seems like some Smart Folks in the City don’t like the concept of these Smart Bus Shelters!