Karnataka to develop truck terminals

Mysore: The State Government has decided to establish truck terminals in every district and officials of D. Devaraj Urs Truck Terminals Company Limited have been directed to prepare a comprehensive project in this regard.

Disclosing this after laying the foundation stone for a truck terminal at Bandipalya-Nachanahalli on ring road near Mysore-Nanjangud highway, Minister for Transport R. Ashok said modern truck terminals in all districts would help in improving goods transportation and increasing business in the State.

“Like good roads, truck terminals with essential facilities will boost business within the State and between States.”

A sum of Rs. 27 crore would be spent on the terminal here, he said.

The Minister said Mysore was the second city in the State after Bangalore to have a full-fledged terminal for trucks.

“The truck terminals in other places may be taken up on public-private partnership (PPP) model,” he added.

Mr. Ashok said that the truck terminal in Mysore, which had been pending for several years, would come up on a 16-acre plot and 300 trucks could be parked there.

It would have rest rooms for drivers and their assistants, restaurants, fuel station, service station, toilet complex, clinic, police outpost, weighbridge and other facilities, he added.

Subhash Bharani, State’s representative in New Delhi, urged the Minister to strive for developing an “outer ring railway line” on the lines of ring road, connecting important tourist and pilgrim centres, including Srirangapatna, Ranganatittu, Krishna Raja Sagar, Nanjangud, T. Narsipur, Talakad and Somanathapur, in a radius of 30 km from Mysore to reduce pressure on road transport and also to make travelling comfortable.

“Mysore has a cultural identity. It should not go the Bangalore way, and for this reason, the Government should take all steps to ease traffic congestion in the region,” he said. C.H. Vijayashankar, MP, spoke.

Meanwhile, the Mysore District Truck Owners’ Association has urged Mr. Ashok and district in-charge Minister Shobha Karandlaje to take steps to establish another truck terminal on Krishna Raja Sagar Road since many industries are located in that area. In a memorandum to the Ministers, the association has sought directions to the Deputy Commissioner to repair two alternative roads between Mysore and T. Narsipur since transportation of sand on regular route between Mysore and T. Narsipur is allowed only between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.