At Broadway bus terminus, hawkers crowd out passengers
Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com
Chennai:26.12.2019
The Broadway bus terminus, which sees at least 50,000 passengers arriving or leaving by the 700 to 800 services every day, is under siege from hawkers. People selling vegetables and fruits have virtually taken over the terminus, crowding out commuters from the waiting areas and shrinking the space for the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) to park its buses.
The hawkers also leave behind mounds of garbage everywhere, which is hardly ever cleared by Greater Chennai Corporation workers. The rear of the premises, especially, reeks of urine and commuters blame the hawkers and the homeless, at least 200 of whom spend the night at the terminus. Not that the toilets can be used. Everyone uses the compound walls.
The MTC blames the corporation, saying it does little to evict the hawkers, who have encroached the bus bays and even the entry and exit points, or clear the packing material and rotten fruit and vegetables left behind.
Passengers are lucky if they can find an empty seat among the few that can still be used. Elderly passengers waiting for buses are often forced to squat on the floor.
A V S Marimuthu, coconvenor of North Chennai People Rights Federation, said at least 200 people take refuge at Broadway bus terminus at night, and they are largely responsible for the appalling conditions.
“They sleep and attend to nature call inside the facility," he said. Entry of unauthorised persons should be restricted by closing the gates once services end for the day, he added.
At the rear of the terminus, the entire platform has been taken over by pavement dwellers and vendors. Prabhakaran, a resident of Chengalpet, said the poor condition of the facility was akin to Chengalpet bus terminus.
MTC crew say they suffer as much as the passengers. They point out that driving the buses into and out of the terminus, is fraught with danger as people are milliing all around as the waiting areas are overrun by hawkers.
MTC sources charged that the hawkers are ruling the roost with the support of political parties. "There is kneejerk response from authorities when we complain," said a MTC official.
But the hawkers are back the next day, he added.
When contacted, Greater Chennai Corporation officials said raids are conducted on a frequent basis to keep hawkers and vendors at bay.
SORDID SAGA: Hawkers at Broadway bus terminus selling flowers, and (above), a mound of garbage left behind by them
Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com
Chennai:26.12.2019
The Broadway bus terminus, which sees at least 50,000 passengers arriving or leaving by the 700 to 800 services every day, is under siege from hawkers. People selling vegetables and fruits have virtually taken over the terminus, crowding out commuters from the waiting areas and shrinking the space for the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) to park its buses.
The hawkers also leave behind mounds of garbage everywhere, which is hardly ever cleared by Greater Chennai Corporation workers. The rear of the premises, especially, reeks of urine and commuters blame the hawkers and the homeless, at least 200 of whom spend the night at the terminus. Not that the toilets can be used. Everyone uses the compound walls.
The MTC blames the corporation, saying it does little to evict the hawkers, who have encroached the bus bays and even the entry and exit points, or clear the packing material and rotten fruit and vegetables left behind.
Passengers are lucky if they can find an empty seat among the few that can still be used. Elderly passengers waiting for buses are often forced to squat on the floor.
A V S Marimuthu, coconvenor of North Chennai People Rights Federation, said at least 200 people take refuge at Broadway bus terminus at night, and they are largely responsible for the appalling conditions.
“They sleep and attend to nature call inside the facility," he said. Entry of unauthorised persons should be restricted by closing the gates once services end for the day, he added.
At the rear of the terminus, the entire platform has been taken over by pavement dwellers and vendors. Prabhakaran, a resident of Chengalpet, said the poor condition of the facility was akin to Chengalpet bus terminus.
MTC crew say they suffer as much as the passengers. They point out that driving the buses into and out of the terminus, is fraught with danger as people are milliing all around as the waiting areas are overrun by hawkers.
MTC sources charged that the hawkers are ruling the roost with the support of political parties. "There is kneejerk response from authorities when we complain," said a MTC official.
But the hawkers are back the next day, he added.
When contacted, Greater Chennai Corporation officials said raids are conducted on a frequent basis to keep hawkers and vendors at bay.
SORDID SAGA: Hawkers at Broadway bus terminus selling flowers, and (above), a mound of garbage left behind by them
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