The Adabari bus terminus lies neglected. Picture by Eastern Projections

June 9: Land problem has jeopardised Guwahati Municipal Corporation’s plan to develop the Adabari bus terminus on a public private partnership model.

The Adabari bus terminus is the largest bus depot for buses connecting the capital city with Lower Assam towns.

The GMC had earlier this year proposed to develop the bus terminus creating various facilities, including an amusement park, shopping complex and petrol pump on the plot. A general body meeting of GMC councillors later approved the corporation’s plan to develop the bus terminus on the partnership model.

A GMC official said the Kamrup (metro) district administration had not yet allotted the Adabari bus terminus to the corporation as the latter has failed to deposit an amount of Rs 5 crore.

The official said the GMC, being a local self-governing body, will have to buy it from the district administration. It also has to pay compensation to those who are already settled at the bus terminus, before acquiring the plot.

The GMC is responsible for the upkeep of the bus terminus.

“The Assam government had agreed to allot the plot in the name of GMC way back in 1991 on condition that the civic body deposits the necessary amount. The GMC’s failure to acquire the plot from the administration can be attributed to an acute fund crunch and certain other factors like alleged encroachments on the plot. The situation has not yet changed and the GMC is left with no other option but to turn to Dispur for a solution,” the official said.

Several private parties have also come forward to pump in money to develop the terminus.

“With monsoon having already set in, the terminus will literally become a hell for the passengers in the days to come. The problem is likely to intensify because the terminus is dotted with craters. Besides, the waiting sheds have also outlived their utility and are in need of urgent renovation,” Rajesh Deka, a government employee who travels from Adabari to Hajo everyday, said.

This bus terminus was earlier located in Machkowa, but with the initiative of then Assam Governor Devi Das Thakur it was shifted to the present location to ease traffic congestion in the heart of the city.

Sources said the GMC has recently taken up the matter with the Guwahati development department minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who has assured it of a solution.

The corporation has also apprised the GDD minister about alleged encroachments of some portion of plot by thugs.

“If the bus terminus is not developed immediately there will be more encroachments,” the official said.