KDMC proposes shifting ST depot from station area

In a step to decongest the city, the municipal corporation has proposed to shift the ST bus depot which is outside the Kalyan railway station.

The Kalyan ST depot sees around 70,000 passengers every day. The buses going in and out of the depot add to the traffic and congestion on the busy station road. This is the reason why the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation ( KDMC) has proposed to shift the depot to a place away from the station. The civic body has even allotted Rs1 crore for this project in its budget for 2016-17.

The depot sprawls over 2 acres helps and buses ply to Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Panvel, Nashik, Satara and Sangli among other places. The civic body, which has been planning to develop the station area and improve traffic movement and parking, has now decided to shift the depot.

The move is a part of the Smart City project, which aims at unclogging areas and developing them.

“There is a need to shift the depot as the buses cause congestion throughout the day. The station area is a mess with autorickshaws, private vehicles and hawkers seated and buses plying

continuously. We urge chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to help us in the project,” said Sandeep Gaikar, chairman of standing committee, KDMC.

Commuters, who now have a seamless travel as the depot is right outside the station, will have to travel further to reach the depot.

The project would only be implemented after MSRTC gives its consent. “Unless the authorities decide on the depot, it would continue functioning at the current location,” said an officer from Kalyan ST depot.

The depot, which is more than 50 years old, has around 295 workers managing around 70 buses. “The place to shift the depot is yet to be finalised. There are several procedures to be carried out for the project,” said E Ravendiran, KDMC commissioner.

The shifting of depot from the station area will be a major relief for the traffic department as it has been struggling to manage the increasing congestion.

“Buses coming from across the state cause major congestion on the road. Often buses are stuck at the station road which leads to heavy traffic jam,” said Vijay Shinde, senior traffic police inspector, Kalyan.

RISHIKESH CHOUDHARY The ST bus depot in Kalyan (West) sees 70,000 passenger daily.