Commuters left with no shelters at bus stops

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Thousands of bus commuters in Chennai are forced to brave the scorching sun because of lack of planning and delay in construction of bus shelters.

The situation is particularly pathetic at arterial junctions such as DMS, Saidapet and Aasarkhana, where hundreds of government employees and other commuters board government buses every day.

“Most bus shelters do not have a place for commuters to sit. Senior citizens like me find it difficult to stand in the adverse weather conditions. The existing shelters do not cater to commuters. The corporation must install more shelters with proper facilities before summer,” said Thiagarajan, a senior citizen.

“The ongoing metro rail work has worsened the situation,” says a government veterinary officer attached to the department of animal husbandry in the DMS complex.

“Whenever there is rain, people have no choice but to get drenched in the downpour,” says J. Kathiresan who runs a tea shop.

A senior corporation official said, “Tenders would be floated in a month to put up 1,075 modern bus shelters across Chennai city, including the expanded areas. The shelters will be along the lines of those off Marina beach.”

“Work is expected to begin once the contract is finalised within a month. The contractor would install the shelters and maintain it through the revenue generated from advertisements,” he added.