Integrated bus terminus still a pipe dream for Trichiites to chase

TRICHY: Trichy, located almost at the centre of the state, happens to be a major transit hub for people to access the rest of the state. However, the advantage of the city also happens to be its disadvantage, thanks to the dismal state of the central bus stand, which is one of the major reasons for the frequent traffic congestion in the city. For more than two decades now, a demand to establish an integrated bus terminus (IBT) remains only on paper. Year 2018 too has passed off just like another year without the IBT materializing.

Handling at least 3,750 bus services a day, the central bus stand witnesses a floating population of 2.50 lakh people on an average day. The 4.50-acre bus stand cannot accommodate city buses and mofussil buses together. The city buses operating from the bus stand and railway junction occupy a portion of Rockins Road outside the terminus adding to the traffic woes. Though several locations including Panchapur, Devathanam, Pirattiyur, and Kottapattu were proposed in the past 20 years, none of them was zeroed in on to establish a common bus terminus. "Kottapattu was selected hastily for setting up IBT, but safety was a matter of concern due to its proximity to the airport and central prison. At least in the ensuing year, authorities should identify a proper location, preferably Panchapur or near Chennai Bypass Road, to establish IBT," T Senthil Kumar, a resident of Palakkarai said.

Officials in the city corporation maintained that they have approached Union ministry of road transport to include Trichy in the bus port project for which Salem and Madurai were already selected. "We have not decided about the location of IBT," an official source with the civic body said.

Another long-time demand of local people, which remains unaddressed, is swanky new model buses for city services. "Trichy attracts a lot of international tourists. City buses should be modernised to add more comfort for the visitors," Subash Chandran, a resident of Woraiyur added. TNSTC sources said that new model buses could be gradually introduced on the city routes.