Bus stops turn business spots

Erragadda: The RTC bus stops which have been set up for public use are now causing trouble to the citizens because some of the bus stops have been turned into a business point for the small roadside vendors.

Bus stops in the areas like SR Nagar, Erragadda have turned to be a business spot for more than 200 fruit sellers and furniture sellers. They have royally encroached the bus shelter and now the bus users wait for the bus on the road as the bus stop is covered with these vendors.

A public transport user Amit at Erragadda bus stop said that there are many bus stops in the city where is no bus shelter and the bus stop which proper bus shelter are been occupied by these small vendors selling fruits and vegetables. He said that they have been causing a problem for the bus users are forced to wait on the road.

Shruti said that because of these fruit vendors the bus stop is not visible, and it becomes very difficult for the people stand on the road. She said that as many bus stops have been engaged with these vendors due to which buses do not stop at the bus stop which is leading to traffic jam.

Another RTC user Gayatri said “I come along this bus stop every day. This bus stop has become a market for the vendors which has become difficult for all of us to stand and wait for a bus to come by. Sometimes I miss the bus due to the heavy rush that is here due to these vendors”

When enquired about the same subject RTC Greater Hyderabad zone executive Director A Purushottam Naik said that set up a business in front of the bus stop is wrong as it is encroachment of the bus stops. He also assured that the TSRTC would soon take up this issue of encroachments in collaboration with the traffic department.
Photos: Srinivas Setty