VELLORE: The Chittoor bus stand in Dharapadavedu, built four years ago, has turned into small shops and eateries complex. The encroachment has forced commuters to stand under the scorching sun while waiting for their respective buses.
Is the bus stand, constructed at cost of 25 lakh under the MLA constituency development fundserving its purpose?
The bus stand is predominantly used by college students.
“I am in the city for the last three years. But we are not able to use the bus stand due to the encroachments by petty shops. It looks as if they have built the bus stand for shop owners and not for the public,” said a VIT University student.
Several others students also echoed the same view.
An official in Zone-1, who preferred anonymity said,“Two tea shop owners approached for license, but we didn’t permit them and asked them to vacate the area which they had occupied illegally. We allotted small portions of the building for shops but they have occupied the whole building illegally. The petty shops are owned by present councillors. So, I am not able to take any action against the shops due to political pressure.”
The zonal president M Sunil Kumar, when contacted, said,“The shops are not owned by councillors. Through tenders we have allocated the shops. How can we give the tender to present councillors? I have come to know about the encroachments and will initiate action against them soon”