Encroachments, lack of city bus services irk E.B. Road residents

A long-pending demand of residents of the city for an assured city bus link with East Boulevard Road is yet to be fulfilled. Although some step or other is taken from time to time for the operation of city buses, it turns out to be a short-term relief as bus operators withdraw the services within a few weeks.

A number of representatives of service organisations have been pressing the district administration and the traffic police to strictly enforce anti-encroachment drive in the area.

T. Ramakrishnan, founder of the MGR Nalpani Mandram, points out that East Boulevard Road has been converted into a parking lot and a place for workshops to repair and maintain trucks. Trucks parked throughout the day here compound the misery of residents and road users. He said that East Boulevard Road was noted for a series of historical places and religious shrines. But not much autorickshaws could be seen in the area since it is not well connected with the city.

“We visit the area only on receiving a call from our customers on this road,” says Nasar, an autorickshaw driver. He said EB road was free from vehicular traffic chaos because it was more like a bypass road to the city.

Service organisations plead for regular operation of city buses through this road. M. Sekaran, president of the Federation of Consumer and Service Organisations, says that all buses bound for Thuvakudi and Tiruverumbur should be operated through East Boulevard Road. In fact, the District Road Safety Council, at its last meeting, has decided to seek operation of city buses through this road. Once buses are operated, encroachments by workshops for trucks would vanish automatically.

Although nine select city buses, including private buses, were earmarked for operation via EB Road, the services were withdrawn in course of time.

S.Vetrivel, a resident of the area, said the location of the Chathiram bus stand hampered the operation of city buses. The problem gets worse at the Darbar Medu area due to congestion. Absence of residential areas on the road is one of the factors contributing to poor transport service.