Erode awaits ₹15 crore for satellite bus stand completion

The Erode Corporation is waiting for government funds to finish a satellite bus stand in Solar, located on Karur Road. They need about ₹15 crore to complete the project, which was supposed to be finished by August 2024. The need for bus stands in the Erode area was identified in a mobility plan. Two bus stands were proposed to help with local development. One is in Solar and the other near Kanirowther Lake on Sathy Road. The Solar bus stand is being built at a cost of ₹63.50 crore on 19.9 acres of land. The foundation stone for the bus stand was laid on August 18, 2022, with plans for a two-year completion. While the project was moving along well, with more than 92% of the work done, progress has slowed in the last eight months. This delay is mainly due to the lack of the ₹15 crore from the state government. Important tasks, such as building the approach road, electrical work, painting, and tile installation, are still unfinished. Additionally, the auction of 134 shops at the bus stand has not gone well, with only 14 shops sold in a recent auction. This delay has led to decreased interest from traders in renting the shops. On March 3, D. Karthikeyan, the Principal Secretary for Municipal Administration, checked the bus stand's progress. A senior engineer from the Corporation said that requests for funds have been made and that the process has sped up after the inspection. The engineer noted that once the funds are released, the remaining work should be finished within two months. The new facility will allow buses to operate to southern districts from Solar once it opens.