Union Minister of State for Shipping and Highways and senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Pon. Radhakrishnan has urged the Madurai Corporation to immediately construct more public toilets at Mattuthavani bus terminus and also undertake cleanliness drive regularly in the bus stand since it is an important public place.
He appealed to the Mayor to visit the bus terminus to find out public amenities needed for passengers and auto-rickshaw drivers.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday after taking part in a cleanliness campaign in the bus stand, he said Mattuthavani bus stand was an example of neglect and stood out as a major threat to public health due to lack of toilets and drainage facilities.
“When the neighbouring Virudhunagar district is facing severe dengue threat, here is a bus stand posing threat of disease outbreak,” he said. The Minister criticised the corporation authorities for collecting Rs 5 from the public to use the toilet and for converting free toilets into pay-and-use facilities. “Clean India campaign should be done in all public places because it promotes tourism and clean environment. People’s participation is vital and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is taking it up in a mission mode,” he added. Mr Radhakrishnan, along with cadre, spent 45 minutes at Mattuthavani bus stand cleaning the outer area and bus bays.