MOUs signed for 11 high-tech AC bus shelters in Chennai

CHENNAI: For the first time, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will upgrade 11 modern, AC bus shelters equipped with high-tech amenities.

As a pilot initiative, MoUs were signed today (September 1) at Ripon Building in the presence of GCC Commissioner GS Sameeran, Police Commissioner A Amalraj, and private corporate contributors.

These shelters will be funded under CSR to enhance commuter comfort and safety.

Speaking about the initiative, Commissioner Sameeran said that these pilot shelters were part of municipal infrastructure development projects, as per the directive from Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

“With the help of the GCP, high-footfall bus shelters are identified. These facilities aim to provide good waiting facilities for the public who wait at the bus stops,” he added.

Seven firms will construct and maintain 11 bus shelters under CSR funds at different locations across the city.

AC waiting rooms with heat-insulating ‘puff panel’ roofing, toughened and laminated safety glass, CCTV surveillance and enhanced lighting facilities, free Wi-Fi access and USB mobile charging ports, integrated bus route information displays and accessible ramps built into the footpaths for easy wheelchair access.

The bus shelters in the following places will get a makeover: Apollo Hospital in DMS, Anna Salai and Mylapore Bus Stop, Kauvery Hospital at Jawaharlal Nehru Road in Vadapalani, Guru Nanak College at Vijayanagar Bus Terminal in Velachery, SIMS Hospital at Vadapalani stopping, incoming and outgoing access routes, Roche Products India at Little Mount, Guindy and Alandur Metro and Future Station Limited at Egmore North and Egmore South.

A senior GCC official told DT Next that following the success of the first-phase initiative, additional AC shelters will be rolled out across high-footfall locations through CSR partnerships in future. “The firms are allowed to display their company advertisements alone. The firm has to maintain the bus shelters for 3 years. Based on their maintenance, it could be extended. License fee has to be paid and renewed every year.”

Sameeran stated that repair and maintenance work at the bus stop will be undertaken by the firm, along with provision of security personnel.

“Similarly, GCC is working on constructing an AC shelter at Anna Square. Foot-over-bridges in the busy area will be taken up in a public-private partnership model with lifts and escalators,” he added.

The bus shelter has a seating capacity of 45 and measures 9 metres long and 5 metres wide, featuring a 6.24-metre waiting area and 1-metre advertisement panels on both sides, a front area ramp and steps with a width of 2.5 metres, said the official.

It may be noted that three AC bus shelters constructed by CMDA are located at Retteri Junction, Kalmandapam Road in Royapuram and Wall Tax Road.