Passengers jostle for space at Guindy Industrial Estate bus depot

Heavy congestion and poor sanitation facilities pose huge problems for the commuters who visit Guindy Estate bus terminus located at SIDCO Industrial Estate.

“The commuters are always jostling for space inside the terminus, which gets worse during the peak hours. Unlike other depots, the terminus at Guindy is always crowded as it is located in the heart of the city. There is not enough space or sufficient facilities for the commuters who wait here,” said B Vasantha, a regular commuter.

The depot serves as an important transit point for commuters as it connects almost every part of the city. Buses to Red Hills, TVK Road, Periyar Nagar, Velachery, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Anna Nagar, Broadway, Tiruvanmiyur, and Ennore originate from this terminus.

The public from the residential areas in the south like Nanganallur, Meenambakkam, Tirusulam, Pallavaram and Tambaram reach the terminus to switch buses because of the improved connectivity with the other parts of the city from here.

Due to the large number of government offices, private firms and several education establishments here, there are hundreds of commuters who use the facility every day.

Unlike the other depots, this one accommodates a small kiosk that sells Amma Water Bottles for the commuters. “This is the only advantage that this terminus has. Otherwise, it is always characterised by incessant flow of traffic. It is located just near the crossroads, which poses trouble to the people,” said a commuter.

According to Venkatraman, a regular commuter, the benches here are always occupied by drunkards. While the bus bays are strewn with garbage thrown by the people which leaves no space to walk, street vendors also dump the waste in the neighbourhood, attracting stray dogs and flies, he said.

The terminus depot has only two bio-toilets and a pay-and-use toilet for the passengers which leads to foul smell being emanated from the stretch throughout the day, lamented the passengers.

“It is difficult for those waiting inside the terminus, as those passing by urinate in the open space, and also relieve themselves in the corners behind the parked buses. 

We have no other alternative in this case,” said N Srimathy, another commuter. She added that it was even more difficult during the days when it rains, as the potholes would get filled with water and area would turn slushy.

When asked, an MTC official blamed the commuters for being irresponsible in not throwing garbage inside the bins. According to him, they should be blamed for the poor sanitary situation at the terminus despite sanitary workers removing garbage twice a day.

“In order to avoid congestion, the buses are operated from three different stops located in close proximity. We will consider easing the congestion through some other arrangements in the future,” he said.