Chathiram bus stand has no space for amenities
The Chathiram bus stand, founded in 1979, does not
cater to the needs of the commuters. It is more of a road taken over by
buses devoid of any amenities both for the crew and the passengers.
The
central bus stand and the Chathiram bus stand, due to Tiruchi’s
strategic location in the heart of the State, are busy look
round-the-clock throughout the year. During the holidays and festival
seasons, they are bursting at the seems.
Any
stranger to the area is bound to be shocked over the poor amenities at
the Chathiram bus stand and the risk and lack of road safety in the
vicinity. Encroachments by vendors on the bus bays, passengers standing
on the road, and city service buses honking continuously make up a
typical day at the bus stand.
Although the
Tiruchirapalli City Corporation has been providing some amenities from
time to time, a lot more needs to be done to make it worth of a bus
stand which was officially recognised only in 2005.
For
instance, the corporation had constructed shelters for parking of buses
proceeding to Samayapuram, Lalgudi, and Nochiyam. But these shelters do
not have seats. Taking advantage of the lack of patronage for the bus
shelters, a number of hawkers and pavement vendors encroach close to the
buses, posing a nuisance to passengers alighting from or boarding
buses. Even as the area is crying for space for operation of city buses,
inter-city buses are operated from here. Buses bound for Karur,
Coimbatore, and Thuraiyur are operated from the western side while those
for Cuddalore, Neyveli, Ariyalur, and Perambalur halt on its northern
side. Obviously traffic congestion, noise, and environmental pollution
are a few major issues confronting the members of the public.
Another
major problem faced here is lack of basic amenities. There are no
toilets. Men empty their bladder in the open. Situated on the banks of
the Cauvery, the bus stand, ironically, does not have drinking water
facility.
Construction of more toilets and provision
of potable water in important points will immensely benefit the people
of surrounding villages who arrive here for their routine works, says S.
Kumaran, a college student hailing from Somarasampettai.
Single
entry point for a number of city buses from various destinations such
as Samayapuram, Lalgudi, Mannachanallur, often results in chaos, says V.
Sivalingam, a tailor at the Chathiram bus stand. The problem is
pronounced during peak hours. The entry point here should be widened so
as to avoid traffic snarls.
“A large number of buses
are seen in a quagmire up to the Anna statue in Chinthamani area,” he
says explaining the impact of traffic congestion.
S.
Amaravathy, another resident, points out that stagnation of water
during monsoon has been another problem. The corporation should evolve
and implement a plan for cleaning the drains in the area, she says.
Post a Comment