The city police and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) are locked in a battle over erecting bus stops for Star Bus.
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On Friday, the police stopped the NMC contractor from carrying out the work near Rani Jhansi square. The reason given was that the civic body did not submit its plan to obtain no objection certificates (NOC). The police have also asked the NMC to remove the structure of the bus stop at the busy junction. The contractor was given the job on Built, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.
According to information, the NMC had conducted a survey on city bus routes and had selected almost 397 places to erect bus stops. "According to the plan, NMC will erect 200 bus stops in the first phase," said Nasir Khan, an engineer with NMC's traffic department.
Eight bus stops will be erected (four on either side of North Ambazari road). "Apart from providing shelter, the bus stops will also have route maps and schedules," said Khan.
Chaos reigns supreme on North Ambazari road, the place from where star buses operate. "It's a free for all as vehicles other than city buses crisscross the road. These vehicles include two-wheelers, autorickshaws, cars, jeeps and others," said Pravin Palkar, a resident.
Catching a bus is nothing short of an adventure. Since a private company runs these city buses, conductors are always in a hurry to go make an additional trip or trips to earn the extra buck. Commuters have to literally dodge vehicles to board a bus.
DCP (traffic) Harish Chavan reached the bus stop site and told NMC's traffic department to stop the work to avoid traffic chaos.
The DCP wondered how the corporation could erect bus stops near busy junctions without permission. "The decision to erect a bus stop near Rani Jhansi square will create further traffic congestion," said Chavan.
He also asked the traffic engineer (NMC) to submit a copy of the proposals to erect 397 bus stops and directed the officials to ensure that traffic is not disrupted for both vehicle users and pedestrians.