Sylhet all set to inaugurate modern bus terminal

After the 1897 Assam earthquake, the greater Sylhet region adopted a sustainable design for buildings. Known as "Assam type" structures, they are now considered a heritage.

This heritage can be appreciated by looking at the red, steel roofs of the newly constructed terminal at Sylhet city's Kadamtali, as they are a spitting image of the traditional architecture.

Moreover, the terminal, built on around 8.5 acres of land, has all modern facilities of an international airport, except the fact that it is meant for buses. People behind the project said this will give commuters an experience they have never seen before.

Spending around Tk 67 crore, Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) under Municipal Governance Service Project (MGSP) has constructed the terminal.

Architects Subrata Das, Robin Dey and Mohammad Jashim Uddin jointly designed the terminal. Dhaly Construction completed the construction work on contract.

Architect Subrata Das, assistant professor of architecture at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, said, "Visually, we wanted people to think that this terminal represents Sylhet's heritage. And functionally, we focused on prioritising commute facilities."

"Bus terminals are normally designed with departure and arrival in the front [of the establishment] and facilities at the back," he said.

But the designers did the opposite, making facilities easily available, he added.

The departure building has 970 passenger seats, 30 VIP seats, 30 ticket counters, a breastfeeding zone, locker facility, smoking zone, prayer hall, medical bay with sick beds, restaurants and convenient stores.

The arrival building also has 200 passenger seats, food court and convenient stores along with other facilities.

A separate multipurpose welfare centre has been constructed, where bus owners, drivers and conductors will have offices and a 24-bed lodge.

Ali Akbar, superintending engineer of SCC, said, "Construction started in 2019 but works were delayed due to the pandemic."

Work will hopefully be done by the middle of this month. "We are planning to lease out facilities of the terminal by September," he said.

Sylhet City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury said, "I am very excited for the inauguration of this state-of-the-art bus terminal. Once final works conclude, people will get to use the terminal without delay."