Deadlines missed, uncertainty continues to dog Mohali ISBT

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, August 25

Nearly 25 days after missing another deadline for starting the Mohali ISBT, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s dream project, on July 31, uncertainty continues to prevail over its taking off anytime soon.

“The date to start the bus stand will be decided by the Punjab transport authorities. The site is ready for plying of buses”, said CVS Sehgal, chief general manager of C&C Company, which is constructing the bus stand. The project was started in 2009.  

The private company, which has completed less than one-third of the project in eight years, has already been served with a notice of termination of the agreement under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode by GMADA due to delay in its completion. The company has also been levied a fine of over Rs 50 crore by GMADA for the delay in the project. The company is yet to clear the dues. The company claims it has filed a reply.

The GMADA authorities have now sent a notice in this regard to the main lender of the company, the State Bank of India, giving it 30 days to respond. Confirming the development, GMADA Additional Chief Administrator Sukhjit Pal Singh said after serving the notice of termination of contract on C&C Company, a notice in this regard had recently been sent to State Bank of India in Delhi.

During a visit to the site, a team of The Tribune found that work was still on at the bus stand. The company had claimed that the bus stand would be started on July 31.

While a senior official of the company claimed that an air-conditioned concourse, shops, canteen area, washrooms and ticket counters were ready for operations, the company is yet to get a permanent power connection. 

Sehgal said they would get the power connection by the first week of September. RO units for drinking water are yet to be installed. Taps in washrooms were found running dry. “These are minor issues and will be taken care of soon,” he said. Sehgal said the site was ready for operations and the government authorities had to take a decision in this regard. 

Six deadlines missed

Though eight years have passed, the company is yet to complete the first tower. The company has already missed six deadlines. 

Three towers

• Under the dream project, the company has to construct three towers on the 7.02 acre premises using the Busopolis concept on the pattern of international airports.  
• C&C Terminus (Tower A, five storeyed)  – Comprising an AC inter-state bus terminus, entertainment zone, food court/retail, 10 screen megaplexes by Cinepolis and modular offices.
• C&C Royale (Tower B, 12 storeyed) –  Comprising a shopping mall, a business hotel by Hyatt Place, corporate offices and business condo suites.
• C&C Capital (Tower C, 18 storeyed) – Comprising a shopping mall with hyper mart – Big Bazaar, corporate offices, modular offices and a helipad.