KOCHI: The private bus stand at Kaloor is slowly turning into a health hazard. Unkempt, the stench of urine and faeces greets those passing through the area. With hundreds of commuters arriving every day and with food counters nearby, the current state of the bus stand - allowing a free rein for mosquitoes and disease-carrying germs - is adding to the city’s health concerns.
With migrant labourers taking up sanctuary in the place at night and even defecating in the open, compounding the filthiness, the Kochi Corporation authorities are yet to ring the changes. “It is not just the private bus passengers who use the Kaloor stand. Rather, it has a stop outside for KSRTC buses too. The passengers who alight here from the long-distance KSRTC buses also use this stand. Besides, there are fruit and food counters in the area which people are forced to rely on. It is high time some action was taken to clean up the place and help the commuters,” said Sumi (name changed), a regular passenger.
Located behind the pristine Kaloor Metro Station, the bus stand is revolting with all the waste dumped around. “We have completed a toilet complex on the bus stand premises,” said Kaloor councillor M G Aristotle. “The building will be maintained well. We have floated a tender for maintenance. The tender procedures should be completed next month and the toilets should be open for public.”
The Corporation, he says, has other plans for the bus stand. “We are thinking of adding a cloakroom where women can rest and where mothers can feed their babies and change clothes. It is still in the planning stage. We are also looking at a possible collaboration with KMRL to build a shopping complex after demolishing the current one and build a convention centre, making Kaloor a more active spot,” Aristotle said.