The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi to get ultra-modern bus shelters

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 15, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Delhi to get ultra-modern bus shelters

Staff Reporter

NDMC signs a 15-year contract with European company

NEW DELHI: To improve the conditions at bus shelters in its area, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Friday signed a 15-year contract with Europe's leading outdoor advertising company JCDecaux. The company will give an ultra-modern look to over 200 bus shelters in Lutyens' Delhi that will be equipped with modern signs, telephone booths and fluorescent tubes on the roof to illuminate the surrounding area.

Under the joint venture initiative, the European company will build world-class bus shelters in some of the most prominent locations in the NDMC area, including Connaught Place, Janpath, Diplomatic Enclave and other main arterial roads at a cost of 10 million dollars. JCDecaux will earn revenue from advertising on the bus shelters and will share 10-20 per cent of it with NDMC.

"The 100 per cent stainless steel structures will carry information about the bus network in the Capital for commuters' convenience. The emphasis in the designing of the shelters will be on its beautification by adding signs on the top of the shelters and through installation of fluorescent tubes hidden beneath the front part of the roof," said JCDecaux chairman Jean Charles Decaux, adding that the company would start construction work from June 1 this year.

Stating that the company had roped in its international research and development team to build the new generation of public facilities, Mr. Decaux said the bus shelters would also have some innovative features like vending machines, facility for water harvesting and green area around it. Each of them would have comfortable seating facility for at least a dozen commuters. "We also plan to initiate a unique maintenance programme to improve the convenience of citizens with clean and safe bus shelters," he added.

Referring to the Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi in 2010, Mr. Decaux said; "Several unique facilities would be introduced in Delhi prior to the big sporting event and this would be one of them. The new bus shelters will play an important role in the city's beautification by enhancing streetscape. We will use modern street furniture concepts in the historic city of New Delhi." JCDecaux in India will operate through its wholly owned subsidiary, JCDecaux Advertising India Pte Ltd.

Bus shelters will be equipped with modern signs, telephone booths and fluorescent tubes on the roof

Revenue earned from advertising on the bus shelters will be shared by JCDecaux and NDMC

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