Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Mar 15: In some spots there are two or three bus stops with shelter and in other places where more people wait for buses, no such bus stops exist. This is the pathetic state of bus commuters in the smart city as there are not enough bus shelters at designated bus stops in terms of the numbers. Public is made to stand in the hot sun during summer or get drenched in the rain during monsoon.

There is no bus shelter in the stops in the heart of the city from Ambedkar Circle to Bunts Hostel, where hundreds of people board buses. The plight of the elderly and children is worse.

No bus shelters are provided at the stops in busy areas like Ballalbagh, PVS junction, K S Rao road, Yeyyadi, Bejai, Wenlock, near Besant College and Valencia. There are only three bus stops near Ladyhill and Kadri, where the public is less in number. People's representatives are least bothered as they move around the city in their swanky cars.

If the public wait for buses in nearby buildings they are unable to see the approaching private buses. For the eldery people and women it is even more tougher and challenging as the bus leaves the stop by the time they come near it. In Ballalbagh, public wait for buses on the footpath itself as there is no bus shelter at the stop although there is ample space for it.

Mayor Jayananda Anchan says, “Work on constructing bus shelters is in progress in the city. Member of MCC should try to provide fundamental infrastructure in their respective wards. In some places, there is opposition to build bus shelters. In such areas the local corporator has to convince the public.”