RTC bus station lacks facilities

Kamareddy: Passengers who commute by the TSRTC buses from the Kamareddy bus depot are facing immense hardships due to lack of proper facilities at the bus station.

The State government which boasts of providing all the necessary facilities for the passengers to make their journey comfortable and enjoyable is not showing much interest in improving the conditions in this depot.

Recently, the District Collector N Satyanarayana has directed the TSRTC officials to take steps to improve the facilities at the depot. Now, efforts are being taken to modernise the bus station.

There are a total of 326 buses in the two regions of Kamareddy and Banswada towns transporting 2.6 lakh commuters and earning Rs 20 lakh every month.

However, the TSRTC is failing to provide facilities in proportion to the income that it earns every month. People who come here are shocked by the pathetic unhygienic conditions prevailing here.

After the creation of Kamareddy district by bifurcating Nizamabad, more bus services have been pressed into service in Jukkal, Banswada, Madnoor, Yella Reddy and also to the state capital of Hyderabad. Basing on the demand, the TSRTC would increase the services. Many people travel by buses from Kamareddy and Banswada to Hyderabad, Warangal, Tirupati, Kanigiri, Paamuru, Bodhan and Nizamabad districts.

Although a platform has to be constructed with the increase in number of passengers, the TSRTC management has though belatedly, has decided to take up the construction of a platform at a cost of Rs 37. 5 lakh. Another bus stand is being constructed near the TSRTC depot from where buses would directly go to Hyderabad.

Traders and owners of the food stalls, which were set up at the bus station are not selling the items at the fixed MRP prices and are allegedly charging more.

For instance, speaking to The Hans India here on Thursday, passengers said that a bottle of cold drink, which is fixed at Rs 9 was being sold anywhere between Rs 12 and Rs 15. A biscuit packet which costs Rs 10 is being sold at Rs 15 without any check.

Although the TSRTC officials have displayed notices to lodge complaints against those who sell the item at higher rates than the MRP, it was of no use as nobody was taking any follow-up action.

The officials have not taken any efforts to make the bus depot clean and green as people were found defecating in the open. The toilets are emitting lot of stink.

Though the cleaners collect small change from the people for using the urinals, they are not taking any steps to clean them properly.
Although tenders have been called to enhance the greenery, no further action was taken. Smoking is going on unabated near the bus station as tobacco products are being sold.

Another major problem is parking of private vehicles like scooters and cars. Although they are collecting Rs 10 on parking each vehicle, parking facilities are not up to the mark and the parking sheds are in a bad shape. There is no safety for the vehicles s many of them were lost.

When contacted, the TSRTC DVM Sharat Prasad said that they were conducting ‘Dial Your DM’ for the commuters to redress their grievances.

He said that the Transport and Police departments were jointly taking up steps to look after the vehicles. He said that buses could also be taken on rent for marriages or going on pilgrimages to holy places like Sabarimalai. He said that the journey of passenger would be made comfortable.

-BY Ambeer Rajasekhar