Bus stand in Mysore doesn’t serve commuters

Medical education minister SA Ramadas and MP H Vishwanath, who visited Mysore suburban bus stand on Monday, found the structure altered to make it a commercial complex. The bus stand has been taken up for renovation under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Reconstruction Mission (JNNURM).

The proposed waiting hall has been converted into a commercial area, where hawkers are merrily making business. In another aberration to the original plan, the cloakroom has been converted into a waiting hall, which is crowded. Passengers are seen lugging their bags up and down the staircase.

There is also less number of bus bays than originally planned. As per the original plan for the bus stand, there would have been bays to accommodate 130 buses per hour. But now buses are parked haphazardly and conductors are forced to pick up passengers from wherever drivers get a place to park.
The food served in the cafeteria is costly. “Charging `25 for a pair of idlis is too much. Soft drinks are sold for `5 more than MRP, which is nothing but daylight robbery,” Ramadas said.

“JNNURM is designed to develop facilities affordable to the urban population. The facilities should also be congenial for people. But I do not see that happening in Mysore suburban bus stand, which is the handiwork of transport minister R Ashoka,” Vishwanath said.