Chathiram bus stand in the city is more of a road taken over by buses than a comprehensive station with full-fledged infrastructure including bus bays and shelters for passengers. A large number of buses can be seen being operated in different directions.
A peculiar problem prevailing in the area is that it accommodates both the mofussil buses and city buses. Given the magnitude of neck-to-neck race between the crew members, particularly among private bus drivers, the entire area is not quite safe for road users.
Mofusil buses going to Karur, Erode, Coimbatore and Thuraiyur are parked on the western side of the bus stand, while the northern road provides the space for buses bound for Cuddalore, Perambalur and Ariyalur.
In the absence of bus bays, the buses, particularly the mofussil buses bound for Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thozhudur and Vridhachalam are seen halted close to the drainage channels.
So do a number of vans and cars at a nearby stand. This has resulted in another problem of open defecation at the stand, causing serious health hazard. The bus stand does not have adequate space for parking city buses, resulting in the use of roads for mofussil buses. The operation of city buses from here to various places including the Central Bus Stand, Boiler, Thuvakudi, K.K.Nagar, HAPP, and Airport is not free from hassles either.
Wordy duel among crew members has been a common phenomenon, causing panic among the travelling public.
Several service organisations and forums have been pleading for shifting of the bus stand to a more spacious area for parking buses and amenities for passengers.
Tiruchi being the centre of the State, it has been a transit point for different destinations all over the State. Further, temples and heritage monuments in and around the city attract a large number of pilgrims and tourists. It is high time that the Chathiram bus stand is shifted say residents.
