Idle bus depots in Coimbatore to make way for beautification projects

COIMBATORE: The city corporation has at last decided to shift Sunguam Bus depot to a site near Ukkadam, after high court order, and a canal bazaar will be set up at its place. The corporation will set up a museum using Tamil Nadu urban development fund.
Under the smart city mission developed, the city corporation came up with the planned innovative projects in five locations that are currently underutilised. “These are the lake spaces, which need to be freed up. These areas will be earmarked and projects such as museums, parks and learning centres will be set up in their place, which will become a part of the city’s identity,” said an architect.
Sungam depot has the capacity to accommodate 1,10 buses, 87 buses are halted between 9pm and 4am. During the day time only three or four buses are stationed and the entire once acre land is kept empty and under utilised. There is an office space with nearly 20 employees working, a petrol pump and a bus wash area. The five projects will be taken up only after the lake rejuvenation project is completed. They will be executed under private-public partnership.