Almost two years after the inauguration of the Shantinagar traffic and transit management centre (TTMC), the entire facility is yet to be handed over to the BMTC.
Almost two years after the inauguration of the Shantinagar traffic and transit management centre (TTMC), the entire facility is yet to be handed over to the BMTC.
The Rs108 crore building was inaugurated in 2010 and at least 500 BMTC buses have been operating everyday from the centre.
Apart from BMTC, buses of Karnatataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) and Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) are also operating from Shantinagar TTMC.
With hardly any space available, platform number 5, from where KSRTC buses going to Chennai operate, has been shifted to the road opposite the TTMC. Nevertheless, the second part of the TTMC is yet to be completed.
“About 10% of the work is yet to be completed and the building is yet to be handed over to the BMTC. Once this is done, we will do something with the building,” said AN Subbarao, assistant traffic manager, Shantinagar.
He added that there were plans to convert the second part of the TTMC into a depot on the ground floor and the other floors will be commercial complexes. Nevertheless, one look at the building will tell you that a bus could not go through the many pillars at the TTMC. “Since the upper floors will be given (rented) out as commercial space, the ground floor will possibly have parking facility,” said an official on the condition of anonymity. The question, when the construction will be completed, still remains unanswered.
The recent addition of KSRTC buses to the TTMC has given the BMTC a new set of problems. Considering that the TTMC does not have adequate space for the buses going out of station, about 30 buses to Chennai are forced to be parked on the road opposite the TTMC.
“Platform No 5 itself is across the road,” a TNSRTC saaid sarcastically. “There is not enough space in the TTMC for buses. But the result is huge traffic jams, especially with the large number of passengers that throng the TTMC.”
According to Subbarao, the road used to be a four lane belonging to the BMTC, but two of these were given to the KSRTC for buses going to the depot. “Ever since, there have been huge traffic jams on the road leading to Wilson Garden,” he said.
Even though the road witnesses heavy traffic every day, the BMTC has not paid any attention to pedestrian safety.
Buses coming into the TTMC are seen cutting lanes to enter. Moreover, an auto stand exactly in front of the TTMC and vehicles coming from Wilson Garden towards KH Road make the situation more dangerous. “Although the road is wide enough, it is dangerous for buses to come head on like this. There are speed breakers, but these are not highlighted. Pedestrians alighting from autos are seen crossing the road, even as buses go right in front of them or honk behind them. All of this put together is definitely a potential for disaster,” said Raju, an auto driver.
When questioned, Subbarao said, “There are plans to highlight the speed breakers and provide proper pedestrian crossings. In the meantime, there are footpaths provided for those on foot, we request them to use that.”
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