Cramped bus station cries for attention

Khammam: The existing bus terminus at the heart of Khammam city has been literally bursting at the seams, with no space and amenities. With the cramped space at the existing bus station, it’s not just the commuters who are facing the heat, but also the bus drivers. Parking a bus or pulling it out from the platform is always a tough task for the drivers.

With well over 600 bus services passing through it every day, the 2.5-acre bus station is cramped for space. Built in 1978, the bus station remained the same till date. No additional space or bus bays were created ever since. The existing eight platforms hardly meet the growing requirement with consistently increasing crowd.

Khammam bus station, said to be the pivotal point to enter Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh States from Telangana, witnesses the presence of at least 60,000 commuters every day. Despite the need for a spacious bus station for this rapidly expanding city, the successive governments had never made an attempt to address the issue.

Though, the administration had considered Vijaya Dairy site for the proposed new bus stand in the past, it was not materialized. Against this backdrop, the district administration came up with a proposal to set up the facility in the 7.5-acre site, next to the CPI district office. Minister for Roads and Buildings Tummala Nageswar Rao had even shown it to the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who recently visited Khammam.

The latter reportedly gave his nod for the proposal. It’s learnt that the new bus station with 32 platforms and all modern amenities is planned to be built with a whopping budget of Rs 15 crore. Even after the new bus station is constructed, all ordinary and district services will continue be operated from the old bus station for the convenience of the people.

Speaking to The Hans India, TSRTC regional manager Ch Ajay Kumar said, “We are waiting for the district administration's nod to take possession of the land. This would facilitate the RTC authorities to start the groundwork for the new bus station.” Although we have plans to establish an integrated bus station with a mini bus depot, it may not be possible due to the land constraint, he said.

“Urgently, we need a spacious bus station as the traffic is heavy here. Boarding and getting out of the bus station is like a hell especially in the morning and evening hours,” said, P Vamsi Chand, a B.Tech student who shuttles between Kodad and Khammam daily.