Sir,

This has reference to the suggestion to ponder over a multi-level bus terminal within the Bannimantap Bus Depot area (‘New KSRTC Bus Stand at Bannimantap: Need to send DPR back to the Drawing Board — Why not an underground multi-level bus stand like in New York City?’ by Bhamy V. Shenoy in Star of Mysore dated Jan. 8, 2025).

I have travelled by bus in USA, as also in Paris, Belgium and Amsterdam among other places in Europe. Based upon my experience, I consider that there is hardly anything that can be replicated here.

The idea of a multi-level bus terminal cannot be a workable proposition in the proposed Bannimantap Bus Terminal for the following reasons:

First, bus transport in those countries is part of a comprehensive transport and traffic policy, whereas ours is a hotchpotch system.

Second, a very small section of population there depends on and/or  uses bus services as most use their private vehicles, whereas the size of our bus service using population is huge and need out-of-the-box solutions most of the time.

Third, most of their cities have got evolved through genuine long-term  city / town planning, unlike our cities, which are congested and mostly built by violating rules. Bengaluru is the best example today. Combination of size of travelling public, the number of buses and the city infrastructure like roads throw up myriads of complex issues.

Fourth, our State-controlled bus services are financially drained and a political tool rather than a public transport system.

Fifth, multi-level bus stand will not be a financially viable proposition even in the long run. Public demands shift and shift rapidly.

One cannot ignore that KSRTC has hundreds of bus terminals in operation. Each terminal provides volume of experiences on its location and functionality.  For example, at Bengaluru, KSRTC has set up a Satellite Bus Terminal away from its central bus terminal. This gives immense amount of experience-based knowledge for selecting an ideal location for its new terminal in Mysuru.

Outer Ring Road (ORR) has become a city’s boundary defining road. This can be used to avoid heavy bus traffic unnecessarily entering the city and creating traffic chaos.

City’s inter-city bus traffic from Bengaluru and North-Western direction and Western direction, from and to, are heaviest. Therefore, the new bus  terminal should be located beyond ORR so as to facilitate faster and smoother bus traffic in these directions. As a short-term solution, the inter-city traffic from and to Bengaluru and Northern side can be  located at Sathagalli Bus Terminal. Preferably, on either side of the ORR.

Similarly, bus traffic coming from Southern direction can be located at Kuvempunagar Bus Terminal. This will reduce traffic pressure on existing rural bus stand on Bengaluru-Nilgiri Road.

It is always a viable idea that Railways and Bus Transport services work in tandem to tackle large user population. Naganahalli, at the outer periphery of ORR, could be one such location.

Finally, Bannimantap is probably a last vestige of whatever is left of Mysuru’s cultural heritage. Therefore, it is essential that the proposal is set aside.

The St. Philomena’s Church, the JSS Institutions and the Mysore Palace are directly going to be affected by this unscientific proposal. They should individually / jointly take up this matter and try to stop this work immediately. 

– R. Chandra Prakash, Mysuru, 9.1.2025

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