Malapuram Bus Depot KSRTC Makeover Plan

 

Malappuram Depot 

Bus parked in Malappuram Bus Depot

In July, 2024 , I revisited Malappuram. During this trip, I stayed at Paris Mount Hotel ( Name sounds like a fancy hotel in Paris) located right at the heart of Malappuram town. The vantage location of this hotel makes it easy for me to catch a bus towards Manjeri and to reach KSRTC bus deport at Malappuram for my journey to Angadipuram.

Well, this intro is just a primer. The key topic of this post is about the big audacious plan to give Malappuram KSRTC depot an extravagant makeover! Here's how I visualize the new Malappuram KSRTC bus depot to look like.

This plan may sound unreal to you. However, I want your opinion about this big renovation plan to make Malappuram bus depot a truly world-class. Also, it should be a public space which all Mallapuramites will be proud of!!

Malappuram - New Vistas for Future!

While working in this hilly town, a person once asked me a question, don't you love Malappuram. Isn't' this a beautiful town which will make you stay here! I replied by nodding my head. I wanted to say that I like and love different cities, towns as each place has it's own charm. But, he was a person who deeply in love with his hometown. So, I let him with his thoughts! 

I know for sure, there are many like him in Malappuram, who really, really love this hilly town! And, so this post is for all the people of Malappuram who're deeply in love with their native town.

An Eye Sore of Malappuram - KSRTC Depot

Right in the centre of this town there's a wide expanse of land belonging to KSRTC. Being at the centre of the town, its's seen by anyone who passes this town. The lone office inside the depot stands lost and struck in 80's. The grayed one room office building, broken tarmac, unfinished building inside the depot all casts a gloom of a glorious past.

My question is  - can we do a grand makeover of Malappuram! Can we renovate, build, add greenery, provide more conveniences and make this infrastructure project a shining examine of public participation in improving  govt facility!

We're in 2024 not in 1984 

The goal of this blog post is to see a transformation of Malappuram KSRTC depot - from the current broken-down state to a well-maintained and a beautiful spot of Malappuram.

How is that possible?

The main problem with this is money. We all know how much KSRTC is struggling to pay salary for its employees, pension for the retired staff and also money is running short for managing it's operational expenses. So, how can we expect this road transport corporation to fund a major rennovation of its bus depot?

This is where we require a big involvement of public to make this mega renovation project a big success. First of all, it's not a small project, it's a plan which can easily cost some 100 cr. And that's a big money for a such an audacious project!
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KSRTC Mallapuram Depot Makeover

So, here's my yet another plan which is based on the community involvement, public contribution, and right planning.  Basically, such big funds can be raised by crowdfunding by the people of Malappuram.

And, we know that's possible, if there's the right plan, right kind of team and leader and finally the focus to achieve the big audacious plan.

Rich Fat Weddings of Malappuram and Luxury Car Owners of Malappuram

Recently, I came to know through YouTube videos about the grand scale of weddings, housewarming parties and programs in Malappuram. While I worked in this town, I wasn't aware of such a lifestyle of big monied people living in this town, nor I was invited to any such flamboyant dinners! 

But now, I have a different idea of this place from things I see shared. There are many people who are super duper rich, who host big fat wedding in this hilly town. Also, there are many high-end car owners! So, all these wealth can be of big help in this project. 

Based on this, my first thought was this - ask for a huge contribution from high-net-worth individuals of Malappuram to fund this project.  

I feel that, if the plan is prepared with clarity, step by step plan, along with the acceptance of public, it will be 💯success.

How to Crowd-source Funds for this building renovation of KSRTC Depot and repair Project! 

Step-by-Step Plan for Crowd-Sourcing Funds and Implementing the Building Renovation Project ( ChaptGpt's Answer) 

Step 1: Develop a Comprehensive Plan

Needs Assessment:

1. Conduct a survey to identify the specific needs and expectations of citizens, MLAs, and other stakeholders such as KSRTC management, staff, public
   
   
2. Identify the specific areas requiring renovation and new facilities to be added. List out all facilities in an order. For instance, repairing the tarmac, rebuilding the office room, creating clean washrooms, rest room for staff, building a multi-stored building to house all facilities, petrol and electric charging points, etc
   
   
3. Create a blueprint or an artists impression of how this place will look after rennovation. Such a  model will give a definite idea for the public and will help in fundraising such a big amount Btw, this project should be projected as the proud project of Malappuram. ( Catchy slogan should be made with the help of adv or PR team)

Draft the Proposal:

1. Create a detailed plan of renovation work, the size and scale of new construction, and added facilities, etc.
   
   
2. Include specific features like AC rooms for staff, clean bathrooms, an entertainment room, a rooftop garden with a café, and more.
   
   
3. Specify budget requirements and timelines for each phase.

Get Approval:

1. Present the proposal to relevant government authorities and obtain necessary approvals.
   
   
2. Ensure compliance with local regulations and standards.

Step 2: Create a Crowdfunding Strategy

Platform Selection:

1. Choose a reliable crowdfunding platform that supports large-scale projects.
   
   
2. Ensure the platform can reach both local citizens and expats globally.
   
   
3. Choose offline marketing - such as hoarding, notices at offices, etc
   
   
4. Get sponsors to promote the plan on newspaper, TV, YouTube, etc 
   
   

Campaign Planning:

1. Set a realistic fundraising goal based on the project budget.
   
   
2. Establish a clear timeline for the 7-month fundraising campaign.

Compelling Campaign Content:

1. Create engaging videos and visuals to showcase the current state and future vision of the bus depot.
   
   
2. Highlight the benefits to the community and the improved services and facilities.|

Step 3: Mobilize Community Support

Community Meetings:

1. Host town hall meetings to present the project plan to the community.
   
   
2. Gather feedback and build consensus on the renovation plan.

Engage Local Business People, Influencers:

1. Involve local leaders, celebrities, and influencers to endorse and promote the campaign.
   
   
2. Share personal stories and testimonials to build emotional connections.
   
   
3. Coordinate with local celebrities and influencers to create reel, videos which can be shared. 
   
   
4. Create a catchy slogan which can go along with each campaign. 

Volunteer Teams:

Form volunteer groups to spread the word and assist in fundraising efforts.

Assign specific roles such as social media management, event organization, and outreach.

Step 4: Launch the Crowdfunding Campaign

Online Campaign:

1. Launch the campaign on the selected crowdfunding platform with compelling content.
   
   
2. Use social media, email newsletters, and local media to reach a wide audience.
   
   
3. Regularly update backers on progress and milestones.

Offline Events:

1. Organize local fundraising events such as charity runs, bake sales, and community fairs.
   
   
2. Set up information booths in busy areas to attract contributions and inform the public.

Expat Outreach:

1. Create targeted campaigns to reach expats from the town living abroad.
   
   
2. Use social media groups, expat forums, and cultural organizations to spread the word.

Step 5: Implementation and Maintenance

Project Execution:

• Hire experienced contractors for the renovation and construction work.
  
  
• Ensure transparent procurement processes and regular progress monitoring.
  
  
• Involve local artisans and suppliers to foster community engagement.

Transparency and Reporting:

• Provide regular updates to donors on the progress of the project.
  
  
• Publish financial reports to ensure transparency and build trust.

Maintenance Plan:

• Allocate a portion of the funds for ongoing maintenance and upkeep.
  
  
• Schedule regular inspections and preventive maintenance activities.
  
  
• Develop a preventive maintenance plan for the facility.
  
  
• Establish a maintenance team and allocate budget for repairs and upkeep.
  
  
• Implement a cleaning and sanitation program.

Revenue Generation:

Implement strategies to generate revenue from various sources (e.g., rent, advertising, food and beverage).

Monitor and analyze financial performance.

Continuous Improvement:

• Gather feedback from users and stakeholders.
  
  
• Implement improvements based on feedback.
  
  
• Stay updated on industry trends and best practices.

Sustainability Measures:

1. Implement eco-friendly practices such as waste segregation, recycling, and energy-efficient systems.
   
   
2. Promote the rooftop garden and café as green spaces to enhance community well-being.
   
   
3. Make a space for a eco-friendly bag production unit

Benefits to Highlight

Enhanced Community Pride: A modern, well-maintained bus depot in Malapuram will be the pride of Malappurmites. And, it will foster community bonding and committment.

Improved Services: Better facilities for staff and passengers will enhance the overall travel experience.

Economic Boost: The new café, hotel, spa, shopping centre, will create job opportunities and boost local businesses.

Health and Safety: Clean and well-maintained facilities will improve public health and safety.

Environmental Impact: The rooftop garden and sustainable practices will contribute to environmental conservation.

By following this step-by-step plan, the project can effectively mobilize community support, secure necessary funds, and create a lasting positive impact on the town's public transport infrastructure.

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NB -

1. While writing this, I was thinking of the spot where this depot is situated. One thing is that it is on a hill top, which is a spot which allows beautiful view of this town. Utilize this terrain to build a viewing gallery, a tower to see entire Malappuram and Calicut. Make space to keep telescope and other gadgets to see places afar.

2. A roof top garden, cafe could be designed on the building. By saying garden, it should embrace it in all aspects of a garden. The garden cafe brings in people to have coffee, tea, other beverages, snacks, lunch and dinner options. This space will be designed as a food-court, where an Indian Coffee House outlet, a Veg restaurant, a broast chicken store, a KFC or Burger spot, a momo shop. 

Apart from that this garden cafe will have a nursery where people can buy potted plants. The roof top will be around 5000 to 10000 sq ft of size. The building will be of 7 or more floors high. In one floor, KSRTC can house it's staff, rest room for its employees, entertainment room such as table tennis board, caroms board and a gym. 

3. One floor of this building will be the lodge facility with ac and non ac rooms for public to stay.

4. Also, a mega solar installation on the roof will enable this building to generate solar power, thereby saving on electricity cost. It will also have the state-of-the-art surveillance facility. 

5. There will be a signage on travel spots of Malappuram and 24/7 spot where people can hire cars and auto-rikshaws. 

KSRTC beautification has been done at few depots. Here's one such initiative. 

Fb Reels by SuchitwaMissionKerala/reels 

Here's another goodwill and suggestion post for Malappuram. Click this link to visit the post about Malappuram 

P.S - Check out my earlier post about KSRTC Makeover Plan