New bus terminuses and bus depots across the city would have provision for charging electric vehicles (EV), facilities for women and children restrooms, shops and proper seating arrangements for passengers, the state government has decided.

The new facilities would no longer be built merely in response to demands from urban local bodies or different departments.

They would also have crew rest rooms, clean bus bays and drinking water facilities.

On April 29 Saumitra Mohan, the transport department’s secretary, issued an order to all “proposers” for bus depots, bus terminuses and bus stands spelling out “checklists” to submit proposals.

It states that “all proposers (administrative departments and local bodies) are requested to follow the checklist ...to submit their project/scheme with requisite documents for early disposal”. It lists over 20 points that should be considered while drawing up a proposal.

Some of these are the following:

Senior officers said the transport department has received over six proposals for setting up bus terminuses but not one adhered to the checklist that the transport department has drawn up.

Officials said the state government was clear that the new bus terminuses and bus stands would be well-maintained unlike the ones across the city that are an eyesore with stinking washrooms. They should also be ready to generate revenue for maintenance with an eye on the future.

“The state government has a fleet of 120 electric buses. New CNG buses have reached the city. By next year, over 1,000 electric buses will reach the state, including Calcutta. We want to build new-age bus terminuses and bus stands that generate enough revenue for proper maintenance of the infrastructure,” said a senior officer of the transport department

There are eight major bus terminuses in the city and the adjoining Howrah. The state government has begun exploring opportunities for building new ones in New Town, Baruipur, Sonarpur and Joka while upgrading the existing ones.

“We have had talks with senior officials of the NKDA (Newtown Kolkata Development Authority) for constructing a green bus terminus in New Town on a plot of land measuring close to an acre,” the officer of the transport department said.

“This terminus would be dedicated to electric vehicles and have all facilities, including shops, restaurants and other passenger amenities. The government wants to build bus terminuses that could generate revenue for maintenance and hence the checklist.”