Out of 650 bus stops within the corporation limits, more than 325 do not have shelters: TNSTC survey

With mercury level expected to soar over the next two months, which will be followed by the onset of south-west and north-east monsoon, commuters relying on public transportation system are left to brave the sun and the rain from June to December, as many bus stops in the city lack shelters for commuters.

It is a common sight to see commuters waiting for buses in the open on almost all arterial roads such as Tiruchi Road, Avinashi Road, Sathyamangalam Road, Mettupalayam Road, Marudhamalai Road, Siruvani Road, Palakkad Road and Pollachi Road.

There are a few bus stops with shelters on Avinashi Road, Tiruchi Road, Sathyamangalam Road and Mettupalayam Road that were constructed from the funds of the Corporation/MLAs/MPs Local Area Development Fund or sponsored by social organisations, but there are many bus stops without shelters.

A survey conducted by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation two years ago had revealed that there were nearly 650 bus stops within the corporation limits. Of these, more than 325 did not have shelters. In places where there were shelters, there were no seating arrangements, which inconvenienced children, women, senior citizens and the differently abled, a TNSTC official said.

But there are also cases where commuters stand in the open, even though there are shelters. The classic example is Kavundampalayam bus stop.

“In spite of our best efforts, we are unable to make people wait in the shelters. They just wait near the signal to board buses,” the official said. The situation is same near the TNSTC Corporate Office, Hope College and near Mettupalayam Road wholesale vegetable market.

Commuters waiting outside the Mettupalaym Road bus stand complained that only originating and terminating buses enter the bus stand. Hence they have to stand outside the bus stand to board other city buses.

K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary, Coimbatore Consumer Cause, told The Hindu that a number illegal bus shelters have mushroomed with the connivance of Corporation officials. There are places where two or more bus shelters are erected close-by for the sake of advertisement mileage.

“The five bus shelters opposite Coimbatore Railway junction is an example of illegal shelters built in the place of one authorised shelter,” he said.