Study bus stands on PPP mode in other states: Vij to Transport Dept

As there are plans to build three new bus stands on public-private partnership (PPP) mode in the state, Haryana Transport Minister Anil Vij has issued directions to Transport Department officials to study the model of other states where bus stands are in operation in PPP mode.

Issuing a set of instructions, the Cabinet Minister has also asked the officials to define the terms and conditions, and clarify how much revenue the PPP model would generate for the government.

Speaking to The Tribune, Vij said, “Bus stands are being developed to provide good facilities to passengers. In this process, there are plans to establish new bus stands on PPP mode at Pipli (in Kurukshetra), Sonepat and Gurugram. It has been observed that in the PPP model, the private players start functioning in a manner as if they own the place. Hence, directions have been given to the officials to properly define the terms and conditions.”

“In the PPP model, the government is also a partner. Hence, how much revenue this model will generate for the government must also be clear. The officials have been told to clarify how much revenue the projects will generate if these are totally operated by the government, and if run on PPP mode. For better understanding, they have been further told to study the model of other states where the bus stands are being run on PPP model,” he added.

Vij had been dissatisfied with the functioning of private players in the PPP model. Recently, during a visit to Civil Hospital Ambala Cantonment, where an MRI and CT scan centre is being run on the PPP model, Vij had expressed disappointment with the functioning and mismanagement at the centre.

The construction of a new bus stand at Pipli in Kurukshetra has been a long-pending project. Even in 2023, the then BJP Thanesar MLA Subhash Sudha had stated that the government has approved the master plan for the project. The bus stand will be built under PPP model and the project will come at a cost of Rs 125 crore. The bus stand is to come up at over 10 acres along the service lane of the national highway and it will have a multistorey building, bus terminal and a shopping complex.

Haryana Tribune