manoj

In tech town Sector V, it takes just a click of the mouse to network with the world. Yet, networking (read travel) to and from the area has a long way to develop. To beef up transportation, Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and a number of IT firms have proposed battery-run buses for those working there.

“We are working on the modalities to run battery-run buses, as we have received proposals from the IT industry to introduce such buses to ferry employees of IT firms,” said Anup Motilal, Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority executive officer. He added that the buses will be owned, operated and maintained by the IT industry. “We will help in this endeavour,” he assured.

D K Chowdhury, chairman of BCCI’s Rajarhat-Salt Lake Initiative, said they were discussing the proposal with NDITA a1uthorities. “According to plans, there will be one or two such buses to pick up employees from their office doorstep. The buses would run only in the vicinity of Sector-V and either be battery driven or the usual buses,” he explained.

The authorities prefer battery-run buses as these would be pollution free and environment friendly. Those working in tech town will be issued special identity cards to travel in these buses.

“The buses will pick up employees from all the offices at Sector V and terminate at convenient locations outside tech town from where passengers can avail of other vehicles to reach their destination,” said Chowdhury. The West Bengal Renewal Energy Development Agency’s help will be sought to introduce the battery-run buses.

At present, Sector V houses nearly 180 companies employing around 40,000 people. The road length of Sector V is about 13 km. With more companies in the fray, the floating population of the IT hub will only increase.

Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com (Kolkata Edition)
Date Of Publish: 24-Jan-07

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