Kozhikode: While the public as well as the KSRTC employees struggle in the limited comforts of the yet-to-be-fully-operational KSRTC bus terminal here, the High Court on August 11 stayed the handover of the building to MAK Associates, a Mukkam based business group. The HC stay order came on a petition of K.K. Abdulla, Thamarassery, who was also a bidder.
The HC which considered the claims of Mr Abdulla and the alleged violation of guidelines and rules in the rental agreement had extended the stay order issued for transfer of possession for two weeks. The HC had in an earlier order considering the petition of MAK Associates, directed Kerala Transport Development Finance Corporation (KTDFC) to hand over the building complex to the petitioner.
Hundreds of people depending the bus station have only limited facilities as the KTDFC allotted only the space for conducting bus services so far. Representatives of MAK Associates in a recent press conference had claimed that it had won the bid and also announced its takeover sequel to an HC verdict. But the stay order came as a bolt from the blue for the business group.
Kozhikode-Wayanad KSRTC Passengers’ Association secretary Abdul Razzaq told Deccan Chronicle that the failure of KTDFC and KSRTC in handing over the building complex to a deserving business group has been haunting the public. “Passengers have no eateries, sufficient waiting rooms, shopping facilities, full-fledged parking space and restrooms and administrative block for KSRTC staff,” he said.
However, KSRTC staff say they are the most affected due to the delay in completion of facilities and handover of the building complex. "We have already sacrificed our garage and many other comforts which were there in the old KSRTC bus station for the new one," said an official who preferred anonymity. But there were promises to provide us with an administrative block, restrooms and other facilities which are yet to materialise."
The terminal-cum-shopping complex was leased out for an amount of Rs 50 Lakh per month in addition to '50 crore non-refundable security deposit. It was after five tender meetings they decided to hand over the entire 2,18,716.23 sq ft space to MAK Associates for next 30 years.
