The poor maintenance of New bus stand (popularly known as Ooty bus stand), situated on the Mettupalayam road, has deprived the public of all passenger amenities, which it once boasted of.
The ISO- certified bus stand that was established near Saibaba colony in 2010 was built in anarea of 3.09 acres at a cost of Rs. 7 crores. The bus stand was a pride of city denizens and was considered as a model bus stand, with many state-of-art passenger amenities including air conditioned restrooms, lift, digital clock, accessible toilets for the differently-abled, aquarium and solar, wind energy and generation facilities.
About 500 buses operate out of this terminus and it is a busy hub for travellers bound for the Nilgiris district and to metros like Bangalore and Mysore in Karnataka.
But the much-loved bus stand for destinations like Thudiyalur, Karamadai, Ooty, Coonoor, Kothagiri and Mysore has fallen on evil days as most of the amenities need repair.
Suresh, a differently-abled, while speaking to Simplicity, lamented “We, the differently abled are forced to use the common toilet like normal people as toilets meant for us at the bus stand are kept locked during the past few years and even in the common facility Rs.5 is collected against Re.1 fixed by the civic body”.
“The bus stand has lost much of its sheen over the last six years of its existence and it is a shadow of its former glory", say city denizens.
"Even to use free passenger rest rooms Rs.30 is collected against the norms, thanks to the unscrupulous contractors who have been entrusted with the maintenance,” said another passenger waiting to board a bus to Ooty.
“While parking violations have become rampant within the bus stand, private bus operators are illegally using the space to park their luxury buses after greasing the palm of officials and contractors. Two buses are seen parked permanently inside the bus stand,” complained a passenger.
The upper deck of the bus stand where a famous restaurant functions is also misused as a garage to park cars confiscated by bankers from loan defaulters. Aggravating the misery of the passengers is the broad passenger lounges of the bus stand which are being encroached upon by some shopkeepers and eateries forcing the passengers to the margins.
The bus stand environs also reek of bad odour due to unsanitary conditions and even the name boards look rusty and are waiting to be replaced.
Will the authorities look into the grievances of the public regarding the poor maintenance and help restore the bus terminus to its original glory?