Two Weeks After Grand Inauguration, Belagavi’s City Bus Terminal Remains Unoperational

Two weeks after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the brand-new City Bus Terminal (CBT) under the Smart City initiative, the facility remains unused, frustrating thousands of daily commuters.

The modern three-storey terminal, built at a cost of ₹60 crore, was designed to replace the outdated Central Bus Terminal, which long struggled with overcrowding and poor facilities. The new terminal boasts 28 bus bays, lifts, escalators, comfortable seating, ticket counters, and dedicated restrooms for women.

Despite its completion and inauguration on October 4, the terminal has not yet been officially handed over to the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC). Meanwhile, city and suburban buses continue to operate from a temporary setup at the Central Bus Terminal, where commuters face inadequate lighting, limited shelter, and lack of drinking water.

MP Jagadish Shettar has criticized the rushed inauguration, asking, “Why was the hurry to inaugurate an unready building?” His remarks echo the frustrations of commuters, who say the project appears to have been launched more for publicity than public benefit.

NWKRTC Divisional Controller K.L. Gudennavar clarified, “The new terminal has not yet been officially handed over. Once the process is completed, full-scale operations will begin immediately.”

Belagavi Smart City Limited MD Shubha B said final inspections are underway to ensure all facilities are fully functional before handover. “The process will not be delayed further,” she assured.

For now, the terminal remains locked and empty, standing as a gleaming symbol of modern infrastructure — but inaccessible to the very passengers it was built to serve.

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