BANGALORE: Inadequate security measures, lack of dustbins, dearth of law and order and negligence on the part of commuters, these are the few issues that seem to be common features at the bus depots across the city.
Shoddy measures and laxness on the part of the authorities concerned, even after many wake up calls is nothing new.
A stroll through the largest bus depot, not only connecting different parts of the IT city, but also linking the city with different parts of the country proves that it does lack on certain areas, if not all.
The bus terminus housing huge platforms for thousands of commuters to board and to get off the diesel machines everyday, scores bad when it comes to the security. One can see negligible surveillance at the biggest nerve centre of the city, leave alone measures like installation of cameras or check points. The depot has no precautionary measures against terror threats.
The metal detector installed at the exit has no one guarding it, in case it beeps.
“Despite being the main bus terminal of the city, the bus depot has no security measures in place. I am a regular at this depot since last three years and have hardly seen security men guarding the area. The lack of security makes it a hub of various indiscretions,” said Raga Sudar, a student of Christ College and a regular commuter at the Majestic bus depot.
When City Express spoke to the assistant traffic manager, BMTC, Shiv Murthy, he said, “We currently have only nine security men to guard the terminal. Looking at the vast area, we need at least ten guards in every shift to ensure safety. I have requested the central office to look into this matter.” That apart, the depot also serves as a haven for eveteasers.
“Men here are unruly.
They do not miss on a single chance. They take the benefit of the place being crowded,” said Raga.
Although fairly clean, the bus stop lacks dustbins.
Apart from the dustbins at food stalls placed by the stall owners, disposing bins cannot be seen anywhere.
The once available non-biodegradable waste collector is no more at service.
No doubt, there are a multitude of shops and restaurants catering to travellers’ needs. One can see the fruits, the aerated drinks, mineral water, the biscuit packets and other assorted stuff. But all of them at each and every stall is being sold way above the Maximum retail price (MRP). When one of the City Express reporters tried to figure out the reason, the owner of the stall was too rude to explain. “Take it if you need, else you can walk away. This is the rule at this bus stand.
Nothing is sold here at MRP,” said the stall owner in rough tone. Although the authorities say that action against these stall owners can only be taken if there is a registered complain against them. Sadly, not all amenities that are available at the depot are being used to the fullest. Example being, ‘May I Help You?’counter mostly has no one there to help.
However, two excellent road maps and self explanatory signboards, both in Kannada and English act as saviours. Another aspect that does impress is the general cleanliness of the bus stand.
Adequate seating arrangements, clean drinking water facility, well maintained and clean public toilets are some other facilities at the depot that can be looked up to.
Certainly, few other services like the public address system, or pointers to various bus bays, are not always followed, and leads to confusion on the part of the travellers once in a while.