From frequency of bus to public toilet, Ennore terminus becomes notorious

The bus terminus at Ennore which is located at the fag end of the city limits is sprawling but lacks basic amenities.

The terminus provides bus services to various parts of the city including Tiruvanmiyur, CMBT, High Court, Central and Puzhal to help the commuters, mostly poor and middle class living in the industrial area.

Though the terminus provides a much-needed roof from the heat and the rain for commuters, it lacks all other facilities. The surface of the carriageway of the vast terminus has worn out completely due to poor maintenance. At a few points, there have been attempts to cover the potholes with construction debris but this has only ended up making the dust problem worse. Women and senior citizens find it difficult to walk and alight from the buses in the poorly paved waiting area and walkways.

This key facility in North Chennai lacks seating and drinking-water facilities, washrooms and dustbins. “It is such a vast terminus but it does not have a seating facility for commuters. Women and aged people find it very difficult to stand in the terminus while waiting for the bus. It is a common sight to see commuters squatting on the floor while waiting for buses,” said K Narashiman of Ennore.

The terminus does not have washrooms for the staff. The area abutting the bus bays is used as a toilet. “It is an industrial area with many people from various parts of the city coming here for work. There should be a toilet for the public use,” an MTC bus driver said, adding that they have a toilet and restroom at the depot located adjacent to the terminus.

As many as 409 bus services from here to a dozen bus routes. The commuters complained that the frequency of the bus is less during peak hours. “Most of the people here depended on the bus to reach various parts of the city. The MTC should increase the bus frequency during peak hours,” said R Shanmugha Priya, a second-year college student.

She said that at times, buses come one after another. “Sometimes we have to wait for half an hour for a bus,”she said.