With just one route, Mullai Nagar terminus paints a poor picture

At a time when bus termini across the city lack space for expansion, Mullai Nagar bus terminus at Vysarpadi was compressed to create space for MKB Nagar bus depot and a small park, too, while commuters were left in lurch.

Located on Satyamurthy Nagar Main Road, the once spacious Mullai Nagar bus terminus can accommodate only five buses at a time now and lacks basic amenities for commuters. While the terminus lost its space, it also discontinued three of its four routes.

The terminus serves hundreds of residents of Mullai Colony, Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board quarters, Golden Colony, MGR Nagar, Vasantham Garden and MKB Nagar. Most of the commuters are daily wage labourers.

After three bus routes were discontinued, the only left route is 46G -- between Mullai Nagar and Koyambedu. Commuters find it difficult to reach other parts of the city, particularly Central, in the absence of enough services. While 11A (T Nagar) and 116A (High Court) were shifted to Kannadasan Nagar bus terminus, the other was withdrawn completely.

A bus driver at the terminus said that, out of 32 buses, only 27 are being operated. “A 46G leaves the terminus every 10 minutes,” he said, adding that the buses plying to Vivekanadar House were discontinued.

Commuters complained that the terminus has no board detailing bus timings. The handful of commuters are used to the incessant waiting. As the terminus is not well-lit, it leaves the approach roads and periphery in a pool of darkness. Owing to safety concerns, commuters avoid getting onto the bus in the terminus until a driver starts it. The terminus neither has a roof nor seating facility for the commuters.

The public toilet inside the facility is poorly maintained, forcing commuters to relieve in the open. “Public toilet and feeding room for new mothers remain closed most of the time,” Murugeshwari of Mullai Nagar said. Shanmugham, a resident of Golden Colony said that they are forced to take a share auto or change buses as there are no direct buses to T Nagar and Doveton. “MTC should operate services to more areas. Just 46G would not be enough,” he said.

A senior MTC official said the reason for discontinueing other routes is dcrease in patronage. “We will take steps to prvide basic facilities for pasengers. We are waiting for funds,” the official added.