Commuters lament poor amenities at bus termini in Chennai, suburbs

Commuters in the city express frustration over poor bus termini conditions, lacking amenities and maintenance, prompting renovation proposals.

Thousands of commuters in the city lament the poor condition of bus termini that lack amenities.

A majority of the 35 termini, located in the city and on the outskirts are in a dilapidated condition, say activists and local residents. Compared with the railway stations, the amenities are poor at the bus termini, they say. Further, most of the termini in prime locations have not been commercially exploited, though opportunities are available.

Several commuters complained about the poor condition of the termini in the city. Social activist V. Rama Rao says that though the termini at T. Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, and Mandaveli are located at prominent places, they suffer from poor lighting and leaking roofs. A brief spell of rain leaves them flooded, she adds.

At the T. Nagar bus terminus-cum-depot from where hundreds of buses are operated to various destinations, commuters are put to severe hardship due to poor maintenance of toilets, say the users. After dusk, the whole zone turns dark in the absence of lighting, they point out.

The Mandaveli and Thiruvanmiyur termini are inaccessible during the rainy season owing to water stagnation, the commuters say.

On the outskirts too, the commuters who use the termini at Iyyappanthangal, Avadi, and Ambattur OT complain about the lack of amenities. There are no fans in the waiting area and the seats are not proper. These termini lack two-wheeler and cycle parking stands too.

R.K. Ravichandran, an office-bearer of the Iyyapanthangal Bharaniputhur Consumer Association, says the bus terminus is a transport hub as several bus services are operated from here. The bus terminus, which is located on the Mount Poonamallee Road where the Metro Rail project is under way, has become dilapidated; its shelter has worn off. The public toilet has also been closed.