HUBBALLI: Come Monday, all long-route buses plying from the city will be shifted from the old bus stand to the new central bus terminal on Gokul Road and Hosur terminal. The move is aimed at easing traffic congestion at KC Circle and to enable smooth running of BRTS buses DCP (Traffic and Crime) B S Nemagouda told TOI.At present, all long route buses go to the old bus stand from the new bus stand to drop and pick up passengers, causing traffic congestion at KC Circle. Most passengers catch long route buses from the old bus stand only. Though the new bus stand on Gokul Road was built 15 years ago, it is not being used completely. Hence the plan is to shift long-route buses to the new bus stand in a phased manner in the next few days. Currently only 30 to 35 buses are being halted at the new bus terminus.“At present, 1,800 buses including 1,200 express buses and 600 mofussil buses are being operated from the old bus stand. From November 19 onwards, 500 to 600 buses bound for Belgavi, Goa, Sirsi, and other places in the west will be shifted to the new bus terminal. In the next 15 to 20 days, other around 700 buses bound for Bengaluru, Vijayapura, Bagalkot and other parts of the eastern route will be shifted to the Hosur terminal. However, buses providing mofussil services will continue to be run from the old bus stand,” said Nemagouda.“No long route bus will come to the old bus stand once we shift them to the new bus terminal and Hosur terminal. There is also a plan to create a ‘bus-free zone’ in the city to curb traffic congestion created by private bus operators,” he added.MWKRTC and Hubballi Dharwad BRTS MD Rajendra Cholan said, “We will soon issue a notification regarding shifting of long-route buses to new bus stand and Hosur terminal. To avoid traffic congestion at Hosur Circle after the buses are shifted, we will develop the junction and divert traffic through Vanivilas and other routes. However, a feeder bus service will be provided to pick and drop people coming to and from new bus stand and Hosur terminal from BRTS bus stops.”

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