We are yet to experience the full fury of summer, yet many commuters are feeling the heat, having to wait at bus stops that lack roofs. At some of these stops, stalls put up by vendors come to the rescue of commuters. Never mind these are encroachments, say commuters.
At Kaiveli bus stop on Velachery High Road, commuters use umbrella tents and the thatched roof of a shop and a big hoarding to shield themselves from the sun.
However, during rush hour, when the bus stop is crowded, this makeshift protection is not sufficient. Kaiveli bus stop is a major stop for buses coming from Madipakkam and Pallikaranai.
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Commuters say the bus shelter was torn down a month ago to enable work to be carried out on the pipe that carries water from Veerangal Odai to Pallikaranai marshland.
“Not that the bus shed was considerably more user-friendly earlier. It however did provide some relief from the sun,” says C. Janita and M. Mahek, residents of Madipakkam and Rajakilpakkam, who meet at the stop before taking a cab to their office in Mandaveli.
The stretch does not have any trees and a few encroachments help commuters. Similarly, there is no bus shelter for commuters heading to Velachery at the Kamakshi Hospital bus stop.
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“The bus stops near the junction and not many of us risk standing under the flyover as we would miss the bus while crossing the busy road,” says V. Kamakshi, a regular commuter.
Similarly, a few bus stops including aadu thotti (also known as Mars Hotel bus stop) on Pammal Main Road and Oil Mill bus stopand a few others on Medavakkam Main Road, lack proper shelters.
In the areas under Pallavapuram municipality, new bus shelters have been constructed at a cost of Rs.21 lakh on T.V. Vaithiyalingam Road and Dargah Road, Pallavaram; 200ft Road (Pallavaram-Pallikaranai); G.S.T. Road, near Chromepet General Hospital.
Also, proposals have been made for the creation of a few more shelters at a cost of Rs.16 lakh, including two shelters on 200ft Road near Keelkattalai. “People can call the toll free number 18004251600 (24hrs) or can write to commr.pallavapuram@tn.gov.in for any complaints regarding civic issues in their areas, including lack of bus shelters, illegal dumping of garbage, cattle menace and lack of water supply. The complaints will be escalated to the officials concerned and attended to as early as possible,” says K.M.R. Nisar Ahmed, chairman, Pallavapuram municipality. For any complaints within the Corporation limits, write to sebrr@chennaicorporation.gov.in.