The time keeper’s office at Mogappair East bus terminus is witnessing greater footfall with more commuters setting foot in it to find out about the arrival status of buses.
Earlier, the digital display board at the terminus would provide the information. It was removed a few weeks ago.
According to MTC officials, they had to remove the display board due to delay in the arrival of buses at the terminus, and the information was misleading. Buses are usually delayed due to traffic chaos, especially during rush hour on the two roads — Collector Nagar Main Road and Pari Road.
As commuters have been making a complaint when buses do not show up around the time the display board says they would, the MTC staff decided to have it removed temporarily.
This move has however not gone down well with many commuters? There is no announcement system at the terminus.
“How many times can we go and ask for the bus timings?” says K. Parvathi, a commuter from Mogappair.
Many a time, she says, the MTC staff ignore them.
A group of commuters have complained about this to the Branch Manager at the Anna Nagar West bus terminus cum depot, who is also in-charge of the Mogappair East bus terminus. They want the board to be installed again. Unlike the Mogappair West and Anna Nagar West termini, where there are autorickshaws that commuters can take to reach the Ambattur Industrial Estate Main Road, Mogappair East does not have regular autorickshaws nearby, making commuters wait for a long time.
Commuters say that if the other termini are able to announce the arrival time of buses with a degree of accuracy, the Mogappair East terminus must also work out some arrangement to provide information to waiting commuters.
Commuters have also sought better coordination between the time keeper and the drivers and conductors on the routes to ensure buses reach on time.
“Steps will be taken to reinstate the bus timing board soon,” says an MTC official.
