Nearly two years after it was inaugurated, the INR 158-crore state-of-the-art terminal in Sector 82 is still catering to 15-16 buses on four routes — Dadri, Bulandshahr, Khurja and Shakarpur.
Noida’s plan to hand over its operation to the UPSRTC has been delayed and so has the proposal to hire a private agency to manage the terminal-cum-transport hub.
In the absence of maintenance, seepage has cropped up on the terminal’s walls, portions of its false ceiling have given away, the digital display boards are defunct and its unswept floors are covered with a thick layer of dust.
In February, TOI reported the terminal had only one staffer to man the booking counter. On Wednesday, it was found that no new staffer was added to the bus terminal near Bhangel Elevated Road.
According to Noida officials, in April, applications were invited from private agencies to maintain and operate the facility. The Authority had proposed the shortlisted firm will operate the ground-floor open parking and booking centre, first-floor restaurants, cafes and kiosks, and second-floor Yatri Niwas, waiting room, canteen, cybercafe and food court.
Officials had said the agency would also handle the parking for 25 buses and 100 cars. They may offer monthly parking passes to cars or buses and use the office areas for transport-related work. They would also have to install charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and may collaborate with nearby societies to let owners charge their EVs for a price earning a monthly rent of up to Rs 85 lakh.
Spread over 31,000 sqm, the terminal was built in 2021 and formally started its operations in November as a bus terminal-cum-transport hub with provisions for amenities including commercial offices, a food court, ATM kiosks, passenger accommodation, a cyber cafe, and restrooms for bus drivers.
However, the terminal remains mostly deserted with just a handful of passengers infrequently visiting it to catch the 15-16 buses operating to Dadri, Bulandshahr, Khurja and Shakarpur.
When contacted, SP Singh, DGM at Noida Authority, said, “The recommendations to award the licence agreements for operating and maintaining the terminal have been made and the work will start soon.”
