Absence of proper bus shelters on the important No.1 Tollgate junction on the outskirts of the city has been putting commuters into much hardship as they stand exposed to sun and rain.
The No. 1 Tollgate is the vital entry and exit point for the city on the northern side.
A large number of commuters and travellers transit at this tri-junction with highways leading towards Chennai, Namakkal, and Ariyalur.
Although junction improvement works were carried out as part of the construction of the new bridge across the Coleroon recently, bus shelters have not been provided on the bus halt situated towards the Chennai and the Ariyalur highways.
The bus shelter on the Namakkal highway side remains inadequate and often occupied by vendors, say commuters.
“A large number of people, including students, converge at this junction and board buses in different directions every day.
For a long time, no bus shelter has been provided towards the Chennai Highway where buses bound towards Perambalur halt and on the opposite side towards Lalgudi.
A thatched structure put up towards the Chennai highway is not adequate,” said Saravanan Natesan of Puthanampatti. Representations to authorities have been of no avail, he said.
It is an every day ordeal for commuters.
Be it sun or rain people have to stand on the roads to board the buses. “When it rains, the situation becomes bad as commuters have to scurry to take cover in front of shops and commercial establishments.
People had a tough time during this sweltering summer,” said Thirumalai, another commuter.
Sources in the Highways Department said the junction improvement works taken up as part of the construction of new Coleroon bridge did not include provisions for bus shelters and the local body have to construct the shelters after taking permission from the Highways Department.
