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Mohali’s Phase 6 bus stand remains underutilised, adds to commuters’ pain

Hundreds of commuters continue to wait inside the swanky, air-conditioned ISBT, unaware that buses bypass the terminal entirely.

ISBT ADDA fees counter also outside ISBT on the main road in Mohali. (Express photo by Jasbir Malhi)

A state-of-the-art inter-state bus terminus (ISBT) in Phase 6, constructed at a cost of crores of rupees, stands eerily deserted as buses continue to bypass the facility and instead picking up and dropping passengers haphazardly on the main road. Even the bus terminal fees are being collected by Punjab Roadways staff stationed roadside, bypassing the designated infrastructure.

A visit by The Indian Express revealed that the company responsible for building the ISBT has converted the bus bays into paid parking zones, forcing drivers to avoid entering the terminus. As a result, buses halt arbitrarily on the main road, triggering traffic snarls and leaving commuters scrambling to board. Daily scenes of passengers sprinting toward moving buses have become a norm, raising serious safety concerns. The chaos often leads to accidents, while pedestrians and motorists face constant inconvenience.Mo

Ironically, hundreds of commuters continue to wait inside the swanky, air-conditioned ISBT, unaware that buses bypass the terminal entirely. “I wait here daily, but buses never stop here. We end up running to catch the bus,” said Rajinder Singh, a Phase 5 resident who commutes to Ludhiana. Deepak, a municipal inspector from Phagwara, echoed the frustration: “The buses’ refusal to use the terminal disrupts my daily commute. Authorities must enforce strict entry protocols”.

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When contacted, Punjab Roadways Manager Shiv Kumar acknowledged the issue: “The matter is under active consideration, and steps are being taken to resolve it,” he said. However, commuters demand urgent action as the arrival of monsoon rains will exacerbate the daily struggle.

A dream project derailed

Built during the previous Badal government and touted as former Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal’s “dream project”, the ISBT now languishes in neglect. Despite its modern amenities, buses either skirt the terminal or halt near the old Phase 8 stand, leaving the new facility obsolete. Even the incumbent AAP government, in power for three years, has failed to address Mohali’s public transport woes.

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