The Hindu : Seven truck terminals planned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Seven truck terminals planned

By B.S. Ramesh

BANGALORE Sept. 9. Heavy transport vehicles are always blamed for the chaos on city roads, particularly those linking national highways. Attempts to ensure that these vehicles did not enter the city have failed so far. The lone truck terminal at Peenya has mitigated the woes of truckers and people to some extent.

Despite the ban on commercial vehicles that are more than 15 years old from entering the city, the number of trucks has increased manifold. With other categories of vehicles clogging the narrow roads, congestion has become common as accidents.

All this may change once Sri D. Devaraj Urs Truck Terminus Ltd. (DDUTTL) implements its ambitious plans to not set up more truck terminals not only on the outskirts of the city but also in two other districts.

The Principal Secretary to the Government, Department of Transport, and Chairman of DDUTTL, B.L. Sridhar, told The Hindu that land had been identified for setting up at least seven truck terminals in addition to the one at Peenya.

Mr. Sridhar said the officials of the Revenue Department had helped DDUTTL in identifying vacant land adjacent to the Outer Ring Road (ORR) on Bellary Road, Hosur Road, Kanakapura Road, and Old Madras Road. The lorry owners' associations have also taken the lead in the matter.

While 22 acres of land has been identified at Hunasemaranahalli and 16 guntas of land at Kadaganahali on Bellary Road, a 10-acre plot has been identified near a brick factory, four km. from K.R. Puram at Madehalli on Old Madras Road.

Similarly, 24 acres of land has been identified for setting up a truck terminus at Nagrur and 13 acres at Dasanapura. A proposal has been made to acquire 20 acres in Dasanapura. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has been approached to allot 20 acres of land on Kanakapura Road near Banashankari VI Stage. Land acquisition proceedings have been initiated in Mathahalli, Wodeyarahalli, Pillalahalli, and Electronics City.

Every truck terminal is scheduled to hold 1,500 to 2,000 trucks and offer all amenities to truckers, including rest room, medical shops, refreshment stalls, and a garage.

To be built as a model of private-public participation, the terminals are expected to ease traffic congestion in the city and bring down pollution level substantially. It is estimated that about 25,000 trucks pass through the city every day. Once the trucks are stopped at the terminals, loading and unloading operations can be carried out there and the goods transported in smaller vehicles to the city.

The DDUTTL Managing Director, Balakrishne Gowda, said since the truck owners had offered to invest a substantial amount, there would be no expenditure for the Government. The DDUTTL could meet the rest of the expenditure. He said the terminals had been so planned that all of them would be in the radius of 18 to 20 km.

Adequate approach-roads and security would be provided so that truckers did not face any problem.

Mr. Sridhar said the local lorry associations of Mangalore and Hubli had come forward to set up truck terminals in these cities.

Work on these two projects along with the seven planned around the city is expected to begin soon.

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