The Mangaladevi Bus Terminal, inaugurated twice in February by both BJP and Congress leaders, is finally poised to become functional after lying unused for nearly six months. Despite its dual inauguration, no buses had operated from the new facility since February.
Following discussions with bus operators and stakeholders, Mangaluru RTO Shridhar K Mallad announced that all buses heading to Mangaladevi will soon depart from the new terminal. The proposal will be finalized during the Road Transport Authority (RTA) meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV on August 18. Once approved, buses will start using the bus bay developed by Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL).
The issue gained attention during a recent Transport Adalat, where citizens raised concerns over the idle terminal. MSCL had invested ₹5.9 crore in various projects in Mangaladevi ward, including a Primary Health Centre (PHC), veterinary hospital, and the bus bay—measuring 110 meters in length, 11 meters in width, and complemented by a 4-meter-wide footpath.
The foundation stone for these developments was laid in 2021 under then-mayor Premananda Shetty, who has since worked with the MCC commissioner and RTO to operationalize the facility.
The terminal and associated amenities were officially inaugurated twice: first on February 9 by then mayor Manoj Kumar, MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, and MLA D Vedavyas Kamath, and again on February 15 by Minister Rao. Despite the ceremonies, the terminal remained non-operational—until now.