Passenger safety major concern at Iyyapanthangal bus terminus

The safety of commuters is a major concern at Iyyapanthangal bus terminus. It is a safe haven for tipplers and other antisocial elements after nightfall.

“It has become unsafe for passengers, especially women and children. We find several empty liquor bottles littered around the premises every day. It is uncomfortable for the public to wait for buses at such a facility,” K Anbazhagan, a commuter, said.

Renovation of the 2.9-acre terminus was taken up in 2010 at a cost of Rs 41 lakh. Over the years, its sheen was lost and the facility fell back again to its derelict state.

Passengers from SRMC, Kattupakkam, Moulivakkam, Mangadu, Karambakkam, Periya Kolathuvancheri, Thundalam, Porur Gardens, Rajappa Nagar and Pattur board buses from this terminus and it witnesses a footfall of more than 1,000 commuters every day.

Hordes of problem besiege this facility, including poor lighting at night, lack of digital time boards, and non-functioning water taps and toilets. The terminus also requires feeding rooms for the benefit of travelling mothers and babies.

The newly laid concrete floor is the only face-saving feature at the facility. But the yard needs a fresh coat of tarmac. “The yard is completely inundated during monsoon and the crew has to wade through stagnated rainwater to steer the vehicle outside,” a staff working at Iyappanthangal depot said.

Besides, there is no provision of drinking water for commuters. A lone Reverse Osmosis plant has been installed at the nearby SRMC terminus, 200 meters away from the depot. Commuters have to walk till there to quench thirst. The problem persists for the crew working here as they have to walk till a mechanic shed located inside the terminus for drinking water.

The public toilet located inside the premises is poorly maintained. “The toilet can be used for free. But it serves no purpose due to bad maintenance of the facility. Many are forced to relieve themselves in the open,” said another commuter.

Around 156 buses ply from this terminus to places such as Parry’s Corner, Anna Salai, Tambaram, Avadi, Broadway, Tiruvanmiyur, T Nagar and Mint. Currently, there are 312 services from this facility.

“As Porur, which is a large neighborhood, does not have a separate bus terminus, the facility in Iyyapanthangal is a lifeline for commuters from various localities around the terminus,” said K Satish, a commuter.

“We are taking various steps to improve the condition of the facility. Recently, we laid a concrete floor and raised the level of the facility to prevent inundation during the rainy season. A security guard has been posted to man the facility round the clock. We will further try to address the security concerns of the commuters in the immediate future,” a senior MTC official said.