Chennai: Canara Bank Bus Stop at Ambattur is in need of shelter. Passengers are forced to wait in open. Some of them wait under the shades of trees and buildings.
“Long ago, the bus stop was shifted to this spot to avoid traffic and have free flow of vehicles. Now, we commuters have to wait under the shades of trees and shops nearby,” says, Saravani, a college student.
“We want the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) officials to provide temporary shelter until the Chennai Corporation arranges for permanent structure. The number of passengers at this bus stop has doubled after it was shifted to this side,” she adds.
Eswari, a resident of Ambattur says, “The non-availability of shelter makes most of the passengers to go by share autos. Some of them have a walk towards big shops, where the trees and buildings protect them from sunlight.”
“We request MTC officials to take necessary steps to install a bus shelter at this spot,” says, Kumaran, a passenger.
He mentions parking of vehicles at this bus stop is another reason for passengers to prefer a share auto. Vehicles are parked without providing enough space to the commuters, he alleges.
“When it rains we need to run for cover and presence of slush makes it difficult to use this spot. Apart from the bus shelter the absence of street lights makes the passengers vulnerable amidst the heavy traffic,” says Renuka, a regular commuter.
“Absence of street lights makes us to stand in the middle of darkness and blazing headlamps of heavy vehicles,” she adds.
An MTC official at Ambattur OT bus stand, said, “We will inform our higher officials to provide shelter at Canara Bank Bus Stop.”