Bus shelters remain a concern

With inadequate facilities, commuters face hard time while waiting for buses

College students waiting for bus at near the Hotel Fortune Murali Park on M.G.Road in Vijayawada on Monday.- Photo: V. Raju

Even as the government is making big plans to give the city infrastructure a facelift, the plight of citizens travelling in city buses has remained the same. Though there has been a demand for more bus shelters, neither does the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation nor the APSRTC appears keen on addressing the issue.

Given the city climate, scores of commuters are forced to sweat it out while waiting for buses at different places owing to the lack bus shelters. This is a common sight on the main roads and colony roads as well.

“If not in colony roads, officials should take initiatives in improving the passenger amenities on the main roads. It is really tough for women and elderly people to wait for buses under the scorching sun,” laments Ram Mohan Rao, a commuter at Tagore Library.

There are close to 180 bus shelters, including the 50-odd ones that were constructed on the BRTS corridor, in the city. These apart, around 40 shelters have been set up using the donations by philanthropists and NGOs. Yet, there is a demand for more shelters at places like Hotel Fortune Murali Park, Ramaiah Mess at NTR Circle, near Varadhi.

The VMC outsourced the maintenance of bus shelters to a private company and every year it earns more than Rs.8 crore through advertisements. Generally, the corporation officials in association with the RTC conduct a study to identify locations for establishing new bus shelters in the city. But, the exercise has not been taken up since the last two years and this year, there is no representation from the RTC seeking more bus shelters.

There are complaints from commuters that VMC officials set up shelters with a focus on advertisement revenue than passengers’ convenience. On the contrary, officials point out that space is a constraint in the city.

“We want to set up bus shelters at different places on Bandar and Eluru roads, but it is tough to get a few yards in these localities. Hence, we look out for other areas,” explains a VMC official.

It is really tough for women and elderly people to wait for buses under the scorching sun

Ram Mohan Rao,a commuter

We want to set up bus shelters on Bandar and Eluru roads, but it is tough to get a few yards in these localities

a VMC official