Passengers at the Kashmere Gate ISBT can now enjoy better amenities with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today inaugurating the renovated facility having an air conditioned waiting lounge, food court, glass elevator and escalators.
Though the Maharana Pratap ISBT has been redesigned to provide better facilities to the passengers, the original architectural design of the building, which was constructed in 1976, has been retained. The project cost the government Rs 70 crore.
Around 2,000 buses from eight states operate from the ISBT.
"I thought when we have a world-class airport, why not have a bus terminal with similar facilities which is used more by the common man," Dikshit said speaking on the occasion.
Union Minister Kapil Sibal, who was also present on the occasion, praised the Delhi Government for the project and its overall performance.
"The renovated ISBT is an example of the development model which is the most suitable and beneficial for our country. ISBT's historical architecture has been retained and it has been upgraded with modern facilities," said Sibal adding, "We need to follow a similar development model in other spheres too so that we have a blend of our heritage as well as modern techniques."
Dikshit said steps are being taken to ensure proper maintenance of the facility.
"Once the facilities have been made available, the major responsibility is to maintain them. We will ensure that the maintenance is carried out regularly," she said.
The renovation of the ISBT had overshot the government's deadline by several months. The agency incharge of the project -- Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) - had pushed the completion date first from November 2012 to January 2013 and finally to May.
