Revamp of Sarai Kale Khan ISBT stares at 2year delay
STUCK AGAIN The project, which was sanctioned in 2008, is to be completely redesigned because of change in the structure of the station coming up under the Delhimeerut RRTS
NEW DELHI: Transforming the interstate bus terminal (ISBT) at Sarai Kale Khan into a multimodal transit hub is going to be delayed by at least two more years, resulting in an approximate loss of ₹738 crore to the Delhi government.
The redevelopment plan of the ISBT, approved by the Delhi cabinet back in 2008, will now have to be completely redesigned because of change in the structure of the station coming up under the Delhi-meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).
Documents accessed by HT have revealed that the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) had earlier planned to build an underground station near Sarai Kale Khan ISBT, which was conforming to the multimodal integration plan of the ISBT. However, the NCRTC recently decided that the station will be elevated, the location of which will fall in the construction zone of ISBT.
Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot expressed his reservations to the development and said the NCRTC cannot take decisions in silos. “NCRTC cannot take such an important decision on its own. The matter is yet to reach me. The Sarai Kale Khan ISBT redevelopment project is a very important and I will ensure our work does not get affected,” he said.
A government official on condition of anonymity said that it took eight years to get all necessary clearances for the Sarai Kale Khan ISBT redevelopment project. “But, with NCRTC’S new station plan for the location, the government will have to make a fresh detailed project report for the ISBT. All approvals will now have to be sought again and that will take around two years,” the Daily average footfall at Sarai Kale Khan ISBT
Footfall expected by 2025, after redevelopment of ISBT into a multi-modal integration centre.
The project is supposed to connect the ISBT with the upcoming Delhi-meerut RRTS, the Nizamuddin metro station under Delhi Metro’s Pink Line, the Nizamuddin railway station and the local bus stand.
official said.
The initial cost of the project, as per the DPR, was ₹162 crore. The cost had later revised to ₹422 crore in September 2015. Now, the cost of the same project is estimated to be around ₹650 crore. By the time construction work begins in the ISBT the cost is likely to touch ₹900 crore, officials who are part of the project said.
The transport department has now formed a committee to formally assess the financial implication of implementing the revised plan sent by NCRTC.
At least 11 approvals, including that from the Airports Authority of India, Delhi Devel-
Project got cabinet nod in September 2008
Work was to start from May, 2009 and was to be completed by August 2010.
Work could not start because building height had to be reduced due to its proximity to Humayun’s tomb.
Metro construction for Phase III’S Nizamuddin station was another hurdle.
opment Authority, UTTIPEC, environment, forest and fire departments had already been taken for the project. At present, the Sarai Kale Khan ISBT witnesses a daily average footfall of 57,000 passengers. After its redevelopment, the multi-modal hub is expected to handle 97,000 passengers every day as it will connect the ISBT with the upcoming Delhi-meerut RRTS, the Nizamuddin Metro station under Delhi Metro’s Pink Line, the Nizamuddin railway station and bus stand.
The NCRTC said it has told the Delhi government that it is willing to prepare a fresh design and drawing plans for the ISBT at no in 2008 in 2015 Present day Cost is likely to go up further cost. “We have also proposed to help the state government’s Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (DTIDC), which will redevelop the ISBT, to facilitate in getting approvals from the UTTIPEC,” a NCRTC official said.
The official also added that the corporation has assured that the area taken by NCRTC for RRTS projects shall be developed as per requirement of the redevelopment plan of the ISBT, before handing it back to the DTIDC.
After getting the cabinet nod in September 2008, work was supposed to begin May 2009 and was to be wrapped up in 15 months.