Mandaveli bus depot a picture of neglect just two years after facelift

Toilets that emit an unbearable stench, room for breastfeeding mothers that is seldom opened, drinking water facility that may not continue when the summer peaks — the Mandaveli bus depot, though refurbished only two years ago, is a picture of neglect. Officials have promised to attend to these shortcomings, but not many among the commuters are hopeful of it.

In 2017, this depot was one of the four in the city that received a facelift, after the MTC took up repair and maintenance works. All it entailed, however, was largely insignificant for the commuters: dilapidated walls and the clock tower that had broken window panes were demolished and reconstructed.

“These repair works were done as a temporary measure. It was done in a hurry, fiving scant regard for quality. It did not last for long,” said a commuter, adding that the work should meet certain standards so that they would get permanent relief.

The depot has a capacity to accommodate nearly 10 buses at a time. Bus routes including 41F (Mandaveli to Koyambedu school), F54 (Poonamallee to Mandaveli depot), 5B (Mylapore tank to T Nagar), 41D (Avadi to Mandaveli bus depot), 29 C (Besant Nagar to Perambur) and S17 (Gandhi Nagar to Mandaveli depot) operate through here. In all, 84 scheduled services, with a fleet strength of 90 buses, are being operated from here every day.

However, commuters are far from happy. Because of the lack of proper maintenance, the public toilets inside the depot is in such poor that the men among the commuters use the footpath to relive themselves. “This raises huge concern about basic sanitation within the premises,” said P Balakrishnan, one of the regular passengers.

Though there is provision for drinking water inside the depot, the people are apprehensive whether this would continue during the summer, the period when such a facility is actually needed. “We are not sure if this will continue, due to the past experience that conveys the negligence,” said another commuter, Ashvathi S.

The depot has a feeding room for young mothers, which, however, remains locked for most of the days.

A top official from MTC said due to the poor financial condition of the transport corporation, they have given priority to operating the services. “We will try to improve the sanitation and hygiene of the depot in due course of time,” said the official.