ÑDz©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³

The BMC has issued a tender worth over Rs 14.81 billion for the construction of a transportation and commercial hub at the site of the Dahisar octroi naka. The hub, to be built on an 18,604 sq m plot, will accommodate around 450 interstate buses and 1,400 cars. It will also include recreational and retail spaces, banquet halls, star hotels, and areas designated for app-based cabs and taxis. The BMC's budget document indicates that the primary objective of the Dahisar hub, as well as a similar one planned for Mankhurd, is to establish an integrated bus terminus. This terminus will connect with other transport modes in the city, such as BEST buses and the Metro, and ensure that intercity and interstate buses terminate at the city's entry points, thereby reducing traffic congestion. A traffic survey conducted at all five toll nakas in Mumbai assessed the volume of buses entering and exiting the city daily. To maximise the plot's potential, the BMC intends to develop commercial and office spaces to generate revenue and ensure the project's sustainability. The abolition of octroi following the implementation of GST in 2017 has freed up BMC land previously used for octroi collection points and offices. The Dahisar project will be situated along the Western Express Highway, which links to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway and the Pandurangwadi Interchange Metro Station (Lines 9 and 10). The hub is expected to serve buses from Gujarat, Rajasthan, and northern states. A BMC official involved in the project noted that many buses from outside the city and various states currently park along Mumbai's internal roads, exacerbating traffic congestion. The creation of a dedicated hub aims to ensure these buses terminate at the new facility instead of entering the city.