Reconstructed Rajiv Gandhi Bus Terminus in Puducherry to be inaugurated on May 2
The reconstruction of the bus terminus was taken up at a cost of around ₹34 crore under the Smart Cities Mission. The foundation of the project was laid by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy in June 2023. For facilitation of the reconstruction work by NBCC (India) Limited, a Central public sector undertaking, the Municipality had temporarily shifted bus operations to AFT ground.
'We will be inaugurating the new bus station on Friday morning and by midnight, we will close the AFT ground. Thereafter, all buses, including town buses, will be operated from the new facility. The newly constructed 31 stalls inside the bus terminus will start functioning only after some time. However, the Pondicherry Tourism Department Corporation and Ponlait will have their outlets, so that commuters can have nourishments inside the terminus,' said an official.
Around 46 buses could be parked at a time at the new bus terminus, the official said, adding that all other passenger amenities have been made available at the complex.
Future plans
The government has worked out a plan to further develop the terminus under Public Private Partnership model in the coming years. 'A tender will be floated, inviting private parties to take up additional constructions. We want to develop the terminal on similar lines of the new bus station at Kilambakkam in Chennai. The plan is to have a commercial complex, convention-cum-marriage hall, a multiplex, and a multi-level two-wheeler and car parking area,' said another official.
Unlike the Kilambakkam bus terminal, the official said the chosen private player would make the investment for the development of buildings. 'The private player will invest, design, construct, operate, and maintain the terminal, and give a share of the revenue to the Municipality,' the official said.
A frequent commuter said the government, having spent so much money on the reconstruction of the terminal, should take extra care to ensure its proper upkeep. 'The old bus stand was not properly maintained. From day one, the Municipality should concentrate on the new bus stand's proper maintenance. The presence of police should be increased so as to prevent the premises from getting misused by miscreants,' he added.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
Why some companies manage PF themselves, not under EPFO? Know benefits, risks for employees; exempt firms are required to...
(File/Representational) The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) provides a financial security cover to private and public employees by managing their provident fund (PF) which can be withdrawn in case of exigencies like medical emergencies or leaving one's job. However, there are a some companies that directly manage the PF of their employees, instead of depositing it under the EPFO. Why some companies are exempted from EPFO? Some firms, officially known as Exempted Establishments, are exempted from the EPFO after obtaining the necessary approval from the Central PF Commissioner. Companies can apply for this privilege if they can prove that they are capable of providing equal or better returns to the employees than EPFO through their PF trust. Additionally, these companies are required to ensure security of funds, transparency and timely settlement of PF claims by employees. Such exempted firms usually have their own trust to deposit and manage the PF of their employees, and are exempted from depositing these fund directly with the EPFO. What are the benefits, drawbacks for employees? The companies which manage the PF of their employees in-house are legally bound to pay at least the same interest rate to workers revised by the EPFO annually. In case of lower interest, the company is required to compensate the difference by other means. Currently, the EPFO pays an interest of 8.25% on PF funds. Usually, the company managing the PF itself provides certain benefits to employees such as faster processing of PF claim or loan formalities through the in-house trust, better customer service, timely refunds, and in some cases higher interest rates than the EPFO. Additionally, employees may also receive bonuses from time to time. However, there is also some risk as the management of the PF funds depends on the reputation and transparency of the company. For example, if the firm goes bankrupt, or there is a scam in the trust, the risk is entirely transferred onto the employees. In addition to this, the audit and monitoring of the trust is not as strict as that of the EPFO. How EPFO monitors these trusts? The PF trust of exempted companies is audited annually by the EPFO, and any violation could result in the cancellation of exemption. The EPFO also actively monitors whether the companies are depositing interest on time. Over 1,500 companies are registered as Exempted Establishments, including major public and private players like ONGC, BHEL, SBI, among others.


Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Reimagining the urban future
The past few monsoons have revealed the disquieting inadequacy of urban planning and infrastructure in India. This season, the cities in the National Capital Region, for instance, are struggling to function after intense rainfall, thanks to clogged drains and construction that disregards topography. In summer, many cities report heat deaths and crippling water shortages. Against this backdrop, the findings of the World Bank's Towards Resilient and Prosperous Cities in India report should be a wake-up call. To blunt the triple threat of flooding, water scarcity, and heat, India's urban centres need a minimum investment of $2.4 trillion by 2050, the report estimates. While investments in the urban sector have been scaled up through initiatives such as AMRUT, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the PM-AWAS Yojana, and the recently concluded Smart Cities Mission, there is still a huge gap. And to make the most of even the available funds, city administrations need adequate capacity to prepare impactful projects, ensure proper implementation, and monitor their effectiveness in the long-run. The problem of capacities runs deeper than just the ability to spend funds. What cities lack is the ability to raise finances — even basic user charges for municipal services and taxes are not adequately collected. To employ innovative instruments such as green municipal bonds or getting the private sector to partner in building the climate resilience would require city administrations to set their house in order. More importantly, power and finances need to be adequately devolved to urban local bodies. To that end, executive and political imagination needs to be unlocked to suit the future needs. These findings outline the challenges — financial, environmental, and administrative — that lie ahead. Without adequate spending on climate adaptation infrastructure — better drainage, architecture that reduces the need for cooling and lighting — an urban crisis looms. For instance, heat mitigation measures can save up to 130,000 lives and increase the GDP by 0.4% a year, against the backdrop of exposure to dangerous heat stress having doubled between 1983-1990 and 2010-2016 in 10 of India's largest cities. Similarly, losses from pluvial flooding could worsen without regular upkeep and upgrades of the drainage system. All this calls for urgent municipal action, especially since India's urban population is expected to rise from 480 million in 2020 to 950 million by 2050. That only half the infrastructure needed to support the growth in urban population has been built (as the report says) is both a challenge and an opportunity. The report's recommendation that a dedicated national urban resilience programme be developed along with a financing strategy needs a close look.


Mint
a day ago
- Mint
What is the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme that offers upto ₹50 lakh to founders? Details here
Over four years ago, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had launched Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) in April 2021 with a total budget of ₹ 945 crore meant for those startups which are undergoing the stages of proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market-entry, and commercialisation. The eligible startups can apply for the scheme on the Startup India portal. The Seed Fund will be disbursed to selected startups through eligible incubators across India. These are the following benefits of this scheme: I. ₹ 20 lakh grant: Under the scheme, one can be awarded up to ₹ 20 Lakhs as a grant for validation of proof of concept, prototype development, or product trials. The grant will be disbursed in milestone-based installments. These milestones can be related to the development of prototypes, product testing, building a product ready for market launch. II. ₹ 50 lakh grant: When the start up wants funding for market entry, or for commercialisation, or for scaling up through convertible debentures or debt or debt-linked instruments, then one can be granted a funding of up to ₹ 50 lakhs of investment. III. Meanwhile, it is vital to note that seed funds can not be used for the creation of any facilities but for the purpose it has been granted for. These are some of the eligibility criteria under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme: I. Recognised: A startup, which is recognised by DPIIT, should have been incorporated not more than two years ago at the time of application. II. Viable for commercialisation: There must be a business idea for developing a product or a service with market fit, which is viable for commercialisation, and scope of scaling. III. Problem being solved: A startup should be using technology in its core product or service, or business model, or distribution model, or methodology to solve the problem being targeted. IV. Sectors: This scheme primarily gives preference to those startups which are creating some innovative solutions in the sectors including social impact, waste management, food processing, water management, biotechnology, financial inclusion, education, healthcare, energy , agriculture, defense, space, mobility, railways, oil and gas and textiles. V. Already received: Additionally, the startup should not have got more than ₹ 10 lakhs of monetary support under any other Central or State Government scheme but this does not include prize money from competitions and grand challenges, subsidised working space, founder monthly allowance or access to labs. VI. Promoters: Shareholding of Indian promoters in the startup should be over 51 percent at the time of application. The seed support can be availed in any form – grants and debt/convertible debentures as per the guidelines of the scheme. This is the process start-ups need to follow. A: On the Startup India portal, online call for applications is typically hosted on an ongoing basis. B: As mentioned above, applicants must be a DPIIT-recognised startup. Those which fit the bill can apply through the official Startup India Portal ( C: On the home page, one can proceed with 'Apply Now' for startups. D: It is recommended to login using the credentials used during the startup recognition process to apply for the scheme and submit the application form. E: There is an option to apply for seed funds to any three incubators selected as disbursing partners for this scheme in order of their preference. For all personal finance updates, visit here