Waiting for bus in the searing heat

With the mercury level crossing 41 degree Celsius in the district on Friday, commuters taking Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation buses from the many stops in and around the city feel the absence of shelters at many of them.

Though bus shelters are a basic amenity, the city lacks it for many years now. The trees and shops cannot shield commuters from the intense heat.

The corporation had over the years in its budget promised to establish shelters with public participation.

“The situation has not changed over the years. Rain or shine, commuters continue to suffer’, M. Kadiresan, an elderly citizen, said.

He went on to add that most of the shelters do not have seats and elderly citizens have to stand for hours together while waiting for a bus.

Another major complaint of the commuters was the reluctance of the drivers to stop buses at bus stops that have shelters.

The buses are halted either at the junction or at the end of the road. In such cases, even the bus shelters are of no use, they say.

While there are no bus shelters at Kondalampatti and Seelanaickenpatti, the shelters located on Thiruvakavundanur Bypass and at Five Road Junction are not used.

Commuters want proper bus shelters with seating arrangements in all bus stops.

“Buses should halt at the bus stop located on Thiruvakavundanur Bypass as people from railway junction board buses in large numbers from there everyday,” the commuters added.