Despite Corporation tag, Nellore city yet to get RTC services

Nellore: Even though, the municipality was upgraded as Corporation in 2004, still status of public transport in the city is appalling with no city bus services from the RTC, lack of convenient bus stops and walking track for pedestrians.

The town was made municipality during erstwhile Madras state in 1866, still the same system is being followed with small changes. Civic body had constructed bus stops in some areas in the city. But, they remained unusable due to lack of maintenance. Still, all bus services in the city are private and no city service is being operated by the RTC. All private services never use these shelters.

Nellore is a tier-2 city which is surrounded by industrial units, economic zones, thermal plants, Port and many other manufacturing units where around 7,000 auto-rickshaws and more than 50 private city services are serving the needs of population.

The city is having a wide network of around 320 km and vehicular moment especially during morning and evening time becomes very tough due to congested and narrow roads. In such environment, bus stops of no use without amenities and majority services don’t consider them as halting points as they stop on the road itself.

Recently, civic body had constructed bus stops at some places for convenience of students, private employees, labourers, who travel on private buses and also on autos from different parts of the city. Bus stops remains unused especially near RTC Circle, Barashaheed Darga and also in other areas.

Meanwhile, commercial establishments have partially encroached these stops restricting entry of public. This is clearly seen at many circles. There are no bus shelters at important places such as Gandhi Statue, Ambedkar Statue, Atmakur Bus Stand, and nowhere on the mini bypass road.

Unfortunately, no bus travels between Atmakur Bus Stand and Ayyappa Temple on the same road and people have to rely on autos. Bus stop located in VR College Circle lacks proper seating arrangement where majority students wait for private buses and autos to reach their destination.

At Government Hospital there is bus stop, it is not being used properly. Another important junction is KVR Petrol Pump where people have to run for shelter during summer and rainy days.

“No bus stop is being properly maintained by the civic body in the entire city. They are being used for shelters for beggars and vagabonds during night. Hygienic conditions to be maintained along with proper seating arrangement,” said Ranganatham, a private employee who commutes from Housing Board Colony. “There is no facility for paid parking and there are no such proposals even from the civic body.

Luckily, traffic islands that occupied huge space were redesigned. At least, city transport has to be maintained by the RTC in different routes for convenience of passengers,” said V Krishna Rao, a city commuter travels between Vedayapalem and Gandhi Statue Centre on a daily basis.