Owing to a lack of bus shelters on Muthu Kumaraswamy Naicker Road (M.K.N. Road), Guindy, commuters are forced to stand on the road, causing disturbance to motorists driving past, especially during the rush hour. Another problem faced by motorists, especially bus drivers, has to do with autorickshaws share-autos which halt near the bus stop forcing the bus drivers to stop much ahead the stop. ∝“Because of this, we have to sprint to catch the buses and sometimes get caught between the autos and the bus. Sometimes, the buses do not stop here, but 100 to 200 metres away,” says R. Senthil.
Apart from this, walkers want a foot-over-bridge connecting Race View Colony Main Road and Subba Reddy Colony connecting the platforms of Guindy Railway Station.
At present, during the rush hour, a stampede-like situation arises on the foot-over-bridge (FOB). Commuters and pedestrians jostle for space at the FOB that connects Race Course Road to Kathipara Road, Guindy.
Commuters and walkers risk their lives while crossing the tracks to go to Race Course Main Road, Ranganathan Street (Guindy) and the Guindy Railway Station.
The wall abutting the track on the eastern side to reach Race Course Road has been broken to let in one commuter at a time. Moreover, commuters and walkers can trip and fall and break their bones due to a ‘hilly’ surface near the wall. They suggest that the suggested FOB can ease the problem. If constructed, commuters and pedestrians can use the FOB connecting Subba Reddy Colony Lane and Race View Colony Main Road.
The FOB will be of immense benefit to commuters and walkers coming from Race Course Road to M. K. N. Road, Guindy, and vice versa.
Official sources in the Chennai Corporation said steps were being taken to construct a shelter on the premises of the bus stop. premises.
However, commuters suggest that the eviction of encroachments on the banks of ‘Maangulam’ adjacent to the ancient Sri Veera Anjaneyar Thirukovil, Guindy, can facilitate construction of a spacious bus shelter. Old steel and metal scrap dealer shops, and other manufacturing units have encroached upon the banks of the water-body.
