COIMBATORE:Though the parking-lot contractor has ‘encroached’ on passenger space at the Singnallur bus stand, its maintenance by Shanthi Gears, is praised by all.
The TNSTC crew confirm that the toilets there are good and that they use them regularly without hesitation. Shanthi Gears has appointed 14 sanitary workers on shifts to keep the place clean. An NGO provides passengers purified drinking water there.
On the other hand, the situation in the Gandhipuram town bus stand maintained by the corporation, seems to be a study in contrast. Passengers don’t always get water from the tap here.
“Water has not been reaching the overhead tank after the main pipeline got damaged five months back, during work on the flyover here. Since then, we have been supplied water through lorries. Several times, I requested the Central Zone assistant engineer to provide drinking water here, but he has not given any response,” said Thangaraj, a security guard at the bus stand.
Sanitation is very poor inside the bus stand, where hundreds of passengers from other districts take buses regularly. Garbage and broken glass can be seen littered about the place.
Like the parking lot contractor, the toilet contractor here also fleeces passengers by charging excess fee for using the facility. He has not placed the tariff board at the entrance to the toilet.
Central Zone Assistant Commissioner Saravanan told Express that he would look into the matter. Officials also feel that the public should cooperate with the corporation in keeping the bus stand clean, by not littering the place.
“NGOs should come forward to take care of the parking lots, bus stands and toilets. These facilities must be provided to citizens free of cost,” said RTI activist Daniel Jesudass.