Swargate Bus Depot: Ongoing repair work to fix water chamber blockage inconveniences commuters, disrupts bus ops

According to Bhushan Suryawanshi, the depot manager at Swargate bus stand, the heavy rains last week created a blockage in the underground water chamber and the work to replace it is underway by the PMC. However, this ongoing work has led to knee-deep flooding, inconveniencing commuters and disrupting bus operations.

Passengers complained about the inconvenience they faced while navigating a narrow, broken footpath to enter and exit the depot to avoid the muck. The waterlogging issue has also led to delays in bus operations and traffic congestion, as only one gate is open due to the ongoing maintenance.

The MSRTC’s staff told The Indian Express that the rainfall a couple of days ago caused inconvenience to regular operations, but the ongoing repair work has reduced the problem. “However, commuters still find it challenging to disembark from the bus and exit,” he said.

However, residents did not share this view. “I have lived near this bus depot for 40 years and every year PMC commences construction work to ‘solve the problem’. Even then there has been no difference at all. No permanent solution has been offered,” Girish Wadekar, a resident of the area and frequent commuter at the depot, said.

Auto rickshaw drivers have also found themselves to be affected by thw situation as they have been given instructions not to enter the depot and park outside it. “We have been told we can only park on the opposite side of the road or a distance away from the gate of the depot,” said one auto driver.

Passengers complained about the inconvenience they faced while navigating a narrow, broken footpath to enter and exit the depot to avoid the muck. (Express Photo)

Commuters from interstate buses were seen carrying their suitcases to prevent rlling it through the mud. They were seen navigating on the only footpath avilable — which too is badly maintained.

An IT worker returning from Kolhapur said, “When I get down from the bus. it is manageable, but to get outside, everyone has to walk along a narrow path and lift their bags. The ground was just wet mud, I saw an older woman slip and fall on the footpath trying to get in. How is anyone supposed to manage carrying luggage outside in this muck on a broken path?”

Explaining the reason behind the inconvenience, Suryawanshi said that the accumulation of water this year has been higher than last year’s.

“This is because an underground chamber which drains the water collected recently got blocked. PMC began their repair work to replace the pipe so we had to close one of the two gates,” Suryawanshi said.

As a result, there have been major bus delays and traffic congestion on the road in front of the bus depot.

However, Suryanwanshi said that the construction is due to be over on May 24 and both the gates will be operational. Within the next two days Swargate Depot is expected to be fully operational with the pool drained out.