Anand Vihar ISBT
History
It was built to decongest the overcrowded Maharana Pratap Interstate Bus Terminus, which was unable to bear the increasing traffic. The construction of a new terminus complex began in 1993, and it was opened to the public in March 1996. Later, it was further redeveloped to handle the increased volume of passengers.
Services
The Swami Vivekanand ISBT at Anand Vihar is the city's closest link to the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with 1,500 interstate buses plying from the bus terminus to these states every day. The local DTC and cluster buses also ply from Anand Vihar ISBT, where around 1,800 to 2,000 local buses operate every day. Built-in 1993, the interstate bus terminus is one of the busiest transport hubs in the area, connecting the eastern part of the city with the rest of the city and the NCR through the Metro. The day-to-day functioning of the ISBT is managed by a General Manager, who is subordinated by a Deputy General Manager, an Accounts Officer, an Executive Engineer and other staff members taking care of Engineering, finances and administration. Besides one estate manager is posted to look after the functioning of the ISBT.
Renovation
After the renovation of Maharana Pratap Interstate Bus Terminus in 2013, there have been plans to renovate Swami Vivekanand ISBT. The Delhi Development Authority forwarded a proposal on behalf of DIMTS to the Delhi Urban Arts Commission in 2012 regarding the renovation. The ISBT was to be developed by DIMTS on an area of 9.2 hectares at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore. Once started, the project was likely to take 20 months to complete.
Connections
Swami Vivekanand ISBT is located adjacent to the Anand Vihar Terminal railway station, Anand Vihar metro station and Anand Vihar RapidX station in the future. In 2003, the then Union Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar announced that Delhi would get a new rail terminal at Anand Vihar. The station was commissioned in the 2003 rail budget The Anand Vihar Terminal railway station was officially inaugurated on 19 December 2009 by the then Union Railway Minister, Mamata Banerjee and the then Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit. The terminal, spread over 42 hectares (100 acres) is one of the largest railway stations and caters to Eastbound trains from Delhi. Anand Vihar metro station was inaugurated on 6 January 2010 by Sheila Dikshit and Union Minister for Urban Development, S. Jaipal Reddy.