The recent rain in Pudukottai has turned the sprawling grounds on Dheerar Sathyamurthy Salai, which acts as the temporary bus stand, into a slush. Commuters visiting the bus stand are finding it hard to walk through the slippery earth. The Pudukottai municipality shifted the bus stand to the ground for taking up development works at the new bus stand in October this year. The works are being implemented at an outlay of Rs. 1.17 crore through the special centenary funds sanctioned by the State government.
The works include building of drainage channels around the bus stand, strengthening the floor with concrete, and construction of additional toilets blocks.
Passengers and representatives of political parties have been complaining about the lack of facilities at the temporary bus stand. Lack of toilets pushed passengers to open defection and the recent showers have aggravated the health risk posed by the unhygienic environment at the bus stand. Work on modernisation of the new bus stand would be completed within three months, and the work on drainage channel was in full swing, officials said.
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K. Ramasamy, district secretary, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), criticised the municipality for its poor planning. The project should have been completed before the onset of monsoon, or, considering the delay in implementing the works, the municipality should have at least covered the earth with gravel, he said.
The local body should immediately set up adequate toilet facilities and shelter for the commuters, he said.