Kolhan's largest long-distance bus terminus will finally hit the road to makeover after nearly 17 years since its establishment.

The state urban development department has appointed Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System (DIMTS) - a Delhi-based infrastructure development company providing consultancy, intelligent transport system solutions and urban transport asset management services - for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for revamp of the Sitaramdera bus stand.

On Wednesday, local urban body Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) assisted DIMTS officials in carrying out a survey at the terminus that sprawls across 1.5 acres along Sakchi-Mango road near Subernarekha second bridge. Nearly, 30,000 passengers take around 400 buses leaving the terminus daily for various destinations in Jharkhand, Bihar, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.

"Based on the technical feasibility report and the DPR prepared by the Delhi consultant, the terminus will witness a major overhaul and technical upgrade for the first time since it was constructed. It will have all the facilities befitting a modern terminus with focus on maximum passenger comfort," said JNAC special officer Dipak Sahay.

Incidentally, the bus stand, which was built at Rs 1.2 crore in 1998 and became operational in October the same year, was handed over to JNAC for maintenance. But passengers have always complained about unclean toilets, inadequate drinking water facility, absence of food court and sitting arrangements.

"Based on the consultant report, we will add more toilets with better flush facility, drinking water kiosks, a modern food court, ATM, sitting arrangements, CCTV cameras at strategic locations and better public address system. A digital display board informing passengers about arrival and departure of buses, bus cleaning and repairing workshops etc are also on the anvil," Sahay said.

The agency will complete the survey of the terminus within two days, prepare a technical feasibility report for infrastructure upgrade within two weeks and then prepare a draft DPR within six months. Thereafter, an approval of the state urban development department will pave the way for construction work after sanction of funds.

"We receive complaints from passengers every day about inadequate basic facilities like drinking water and toilets. There is no place to sit at the terminus. It is a good thing that the government has decided to upgrade infrastructure though it should have been done much earlier," said chief patron of Jamshedpur Bus Owners' Association Upender Sharma.