The Chennai Corporation has decided to improve the Broadway bus stand here at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.36 crore.
The civic body made the submission before the First Bench comprising the Acting Chief Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and Aruna Jagadeesan, in response to a public interest litigation petition by K.R. Ramaswamy alias `Traffic’ Ramaswamy, a social activist.
In the counter affidavit, the Corporation also said that tenders had been floated for laying a concrete road inside the bus stand.
The petitioner said he had personally visited and taken photographs of heaps of solid waste in various parts of the city, including in and around the Broadway bus stand. There were also newspaper reports on the problem. He submitted that there was poor management of solid waste or garbage. Recently, while passing along Karaneeswarar Pakoda Street, Mylapore, he found heaps of waste dumped at the transit point. The area seemed to be a breeding ground for diseases. He sent a representation to the authorities on November 12. As no action was taken, he had filed the present petition.
He prayed the court to direct the Chennai Corporation to take immediate steps to clear solid waste which had accumulated in various parts of the city.
Following the filing of the present petition, the Bench appointed one Karthik Rajan as the advocate-commissioner to inspect the Broadway bus stand and submit a report.
In the general observation, the advocate-commissioner said that at the time of inspection, except for a few spots where waste had accumulated, largely, the bus stand was clear of such garbage. However, when he enquired, the Corporation officials had told him that the civic body had commenced a cleaning operation on the date of inspection that continued even during his visit.
The unauthorised vendors were also sought to be evicted. The road inside the bus terminus was not in good shape and needed urgent repair. In terms of hygiene, the public convenience available did not appear adequate.
Recording the civic body’s submission, the Bench said it was keeping the petition pending till the Corporation’s exercise was being completed. It posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks.
