Bus stand too clamours for attention

Despite the fact that thousands of commuters visit and hundreds of buses touch it daily,the Panchkula bus stand,Sector-5,gets a step-motherly treatment from authorities.

Despite the fact that thousands of commuters visit and hundreds of buses touch it daily,the Panchkula bus stand,Sector-5,gets a step-motherly treatment from authorities. The unhygienic surroundings,potholed entry roads,stinking and sickening bathrooms and messy water taps are the hallmarks of it. A harassed lot,the commuters claim that walking through the platform can be a nightmarish experience.

We have to travel daily by bus to reach our school and we come to the bus stand daily in the morning. The toilets and bathrooms are dirty and people spit everywhere. No one comes to clean the garbage, said Sushant Chhabra,a student of the Government Model Senior Secondary school,Sector-19,Chandigarh. He said,We cant even think of drinking water from the taps. The sweepers just come,chat with each other,have some tea and go off.

Similar sentiments were echoed by an employee,Harjeet Singh Bawa,who said,I have been coming here for the last 12 years and the roads are exactly the same,with infinite number of potholes. In the rainy season,these potholes get filled with water and turn into puddles. Last year,my wifes leg was fractured when she came to drop me and her scooter slipped while passing through this way.

There is a parking problem as well. Once I parked my scooter at the backside of the bus stand and when I came back,it was gone. Since then,I come here walking rather than getting my vehicle stolen, said Rakhi Chawla,who works at the PGI. She added,I dont think the management has any paucity of funds. I have not seen any officer coming here and checking the condition of the bus stand.

Talking to Newsline,Subash Sheoran,Regional Transport Authority (RTA),said,We have spoken to our senior officials. They have agreed to our request and within a week,the work of improving the condition of the bus stand will begin.

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