BANGALORE: A common terminus for over 700 diesel monsters and thousands of commuters everyday, Shivajinagar bus stand is one of the throbbing nerve centres linking different parts of the IT city. The huge bus station located in the heart of the city constantly sees people on the move, acting as the point of departure and arrival for hundreds everyday. Housing 12 platforms for buses to load and unload and a huge parking lot, the bus stand is surely the lifeline of the city of Bangalore. Although an average cleanliness is maintined on the platforms, the depot lacks a few basic amenities, thus causing inconvenience to the commuters. Unhygienic drinking water and toilet facility, a wrecked subway, lack of dustbins, crippled navigation resources and inadequate security measures are the few areas of concern.City Express provides an overview of the depot and issues that require immediate attention.Paralysed navigation toolsThe bus depot has a huge torn out and faded city map stuck on a board and Kannada signboards as far as navigation facilities are concerned. The so-called cosmopolitan city known for its linguistic diversity is clueless about how to navigate by using the signboards put up in Kannada. Moreover, the city map pasted on platform number three, is old, faded and ripped, giving a vintage and antique look, making it hard to read. “It is very difficult to find out the right buses with these Kannada signboards. I don’t know the language and I end up interrogating the bus drivers or conductors who are not always willing to help,” said Aarthi, a resident of Koramangala working with a private firm.Poor hygiene standardsThe station came up with four drinking-water-cum- wash-basin facilities recently. Installed only few days ago, the wash basins are already leaking, broken and in a miserable state. Over 90 per cent of the commuters City Express spoke to, denied using the water for any purpose. “They are too dirty and filthy to be used. Despite them being there, we still carry water with us,” said Swapna and Chandini, regular commuters at Shivajinagar bus depot. The toilet situated at a corner is in even a more deplorable state. One can often see people entering with their noses covered. “These washrooms are very dirty but we have no other place to go,” said Chandana, a commuter. The bus stop has no dustbins that should ideally be provided by the BMTC which further adds to the confusion over disposal.Poor security measuresAnother major area of concern is the poor security provisions. With Russell market located at a stone’s throw distance on one hand and Cantonment railway station on the other, the bus stand according to many, falls short of adequate security measures. A red enclosure with a signboard reading in Kannada, ‘Police to keep an eye on terrorist activities’ has few stacks of rusted boards waiting for their disposal. “The bus stand definitely lacks in security. It’s high time that officials act and tighten the security. Authorities should come up with identity card system and only those with the card should be allowed in,” said a resident of Chamrajpet.Expendable subwayThe dark, smelly and filthy underpass at the station has not been functioning for months. The entrance and exit of the subway opening at platform 12 is shut. However, the manned enquiry service at the station acts as saviour. The third busiest bus station in Bangalore after Majestic and KR Market stations has a very prompt and useful enquiry service, serving about five million commuters on daily basis. Although M P Prabhudas, Chief Traffic Manger, Operations, was not available to comment, a BMTC official on the condition of anonymity said, “Checking every person entering the bus stand is not possible. Moreover, the area is very congested that leads to further chaos.” He further added that although measures like putting up the wash basins and dustbins are taken promptly, they are misused to great extent. “We had four dustbins across the station, but they soon went missing. As far as the torn city map and Kannada signboards are concerned, they will be replaced by more useful navigating tools within a month,” he informed.
Comments
0 comment