Pothole ridden bus terminus turns slushy after rain in Kannagi Nagar

Kannagi Nagar bus terminus cum depot is one of the newest termini of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation but it remains in a bad shape with the damaged surface.

The surface area of the terminus is uneven and riddled with potholes. With the rain lashing the city for a week, the terminus has become slushy with water stagnation affecting the movement of the passengers. Commuters, especially women and senior citizens, find it difficult to walk on the broken carriageway.

“If walking on the unpaved surface was difficult, it is much worse to enter the terminus when it's slushy. The condition of the terminus has become worse over the years. The officials are turning a blind eye towards the upkeep of the terminus,” said K Sarala, a resident of the Kannagi Nagar.

Lighting is another problem at the terminus. There have been incidents of commuters slipping and falling while rushing to board buses due to lack of light in the late evening hours. The entry point alone has some lighting.

Another regular passenger at the terminus, S Sathish said that the terminus lacks basic amenities for the commuters. “There are very few chairs at the terminus and it forces commuters waiting for buses to stand or squat on the floor. The corporation should have provided more seating facilities,” he said, adding that the terminus also does not have a public toilet. “Many women from the tenements of Kannagi Nagar take buses from here to reach their workplace. They find it difficult without a toilet at the terminus. While the men use the area abating the bus bays as a toilet,” he said.

Kalaimani, who works at a private company in Saidapet, complained that most of the buses operating from here are in the express category. “People living in Kannagi Nagar are from poor financial background and travel to the city for work every day. They spend a lot on transportation as the number of express buses is more than ordinary ones. It would benefit them if there are more ordinary fare buses,” he said. He also urged the MTC to put up a board with updated timings, so that it helps the commuters. “The buses operate only in four routes, but it is difficult to know the timings of each bus without the board,” he said.

An MTC official said that they are filling the potholes in the terminus to prevent the water stagnation.