Model of the bus terminus in Jorhat.Telegraph picture

Jorhat, Sept. 10: In another two months, commuters will no longer need to tolerate the stench and congestion of the ASTC bus stand near Baruah Chariali here.

They can wait in airy waiting rooms or plush restaurants at the inter-state bus terminus being constructed at Kotoky Pukhuri on AT Road.

ASTC regional manager (Upper Assam), Nirendra Nath Acharjee, said 90 per cent construction of the building was over, but rain had hampered work on the yard.

“We would have it done by May had it not been for the heavy rainfall we witnessed this year,” Acharjee said.

The project which began in May 2007 cost Rs 11.37 crore till March this year.

Funded by the North Eastern Council, the state-of-art bus terminus would have large air-conditioned separate waiting rooms, a departure bay, toilets, drinking water and luggage booking facilities and a cloakroom.

There will be an office-cum-garage, a store and a tyre re-treading plant outside.

Rajiv Bordoloi, a frequent traveller on ASTC buses, however, did not welcome the idea of shifting the bus stand to Kotoky Pukhuri, a distance of about 3km from the present location.

“I have to often take a very early bus and going to Kotoky Pukhuri will be an additional bother. I will have to arrange a rickshaw or an auto to take me all the way to Kotoky Pukhuri which will only add to my expenses,” Bordoloi said.

To this Acharjee, however, has an answer.

“A proposal has been mooted to solve the problem which commuters may face to reach the ISBT from the present bus stand located in the heart of the town. We may allow mini buses and vans operating under ASTC to park at the bus stand here and ply to and from the ISBT as link vehicles.”

The ASTC itself will face a problem once the terminus is completed — that of a workshed where buses will be repaired.

The 20 bigha land on which the ISBT has been established was earlier an ASTC workshop.

“The shed has been completely dismantled and we have very little space to accommodate the large buses,” Acharjee said.