Call it lethargy of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) or apathy of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), chaos reigns
supreme at over half a dozen ST bus-stops in busy areas across the city causing grave inconvenience to passengers.
These bus-stops are meant as pick-up and drop points for passengers who find it difficult to reach Ganeshpeth or Mor Bhavantermini. According to MSRTC sources, nearly 45 buses and over 2000 passengers use these bus stops each hour. They are located at Ravi Nagar Square, Manas Chowk (Tekdi Road), Variety Square, Chhatrapati Chowk and Sakkardara. They are a picture of neglect. They are barely visible encroachments now surround most of them.
Shockingly, they even lack basic amenities like shades for passengers, seating arrangements and drinking water. The bus-stops serve as urinals for passers-by during the night. TOI found Ravi Nagar and Manas Chowk points have even become garbage dumping grounds with NMC not clearing up rubbish. Though the stops are used by not just MSRTC but also by illegally run private vehicles no one is really accountable for facilities here. As per high court orders, no private vehicle is to operate from within 200 metres of the MSRTC bus-stops but it is blatantly violated at Manas Chowk, allegedly with the blessings of RTO and traffic police.
"There is complete chaos with buses not maintaining timings. We have to suffer rains and heat standing in the open. Many times, we become victims of eve-teasing with anti-social elements always roaming around," complained Sheetal Sakhare of Katol who studies in Vasantrao Naik College of Arts. Students like Nitin Parachi and Umesh Sontakke echoed the same feelings and said there was complete mismanagement by the MSRTC despite a traffic controller posted at the spot.
With no seating arrangement, S S Mate, traffic controller, was himself seated on handcart of a banana vendor controlling ST buses at Manas Chowk. Similar was the situation at Ravi Nagar where passengers couldn't withstand dirty smell of garbage and urine dumped nearby. The MSRTC showed its helplessness in the matter. Divisional traffic officer (DTO) A M Sole says Manas Chowk stop could not be developed as it was on defence land. "Twice we tried to install temporary shade for passengers but it was removed by the defence authorities," he added.
Sole said Ravi Nagar, Chhatrapati Chowk and Variety Square stops were just pick-up points and hence facilities could not be granted without nod of road authorities. The PWD has asked us to shift Sakkardara and Sadar pick-up points citing traffic congestion. "We will be allotted alternative space by the Raj Bhavan authorities near Sadar. Sakkardara stop will also be shifted," he said.
The official admitted that passengers needed to be given a better deal but said right now MSRTC had no proposal to upgrade these bus-stops. He said several complaints along with evidence have been filed with the RTO and police authorities but they do not take action against private vehicles that cause congestion.
A section of ST officials even said that traffic authorities were asking them to shift elsewhere only to pave way for private players.
Once a bus station, now a parking stand
The flyover opposite the railway station has led to closure of MSRTC mini bus stand near Ganesh Tekdi. While the Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (MPSRTC) continues to operate partially, bus services of MSRTC have been completely withdrawn. Once a flourishing bus stand for buses to MP and Chhattisgarh destinations has turned into a parking stand now. The four platforms of buses are being used to park two-wheelers of the staff. DTO A M Sole says permission will be sought from authorities to allow the MSRTC to use the flyover, which is banned for ST buses. "If permission to use the flyover is granted, mini buses can start rolling again," he added.