Tamil Nadu: Koyambedu bus stand is turning into a free hotel
Tamil Nadu: Complaints have been received that the Koyambedu bus stand, which was built to facilitate commuting, has now become a free hotel, creating unsafe conditions for commuters.
A new integrated bus stand was constructed and opened in Koyambedu, Chennai, in 2002, covering 37 acres and 149,750 square meters at a cost of ₹103 crore. Bus stand facilities: The main entrance has parking capacity for 180 buses at a time, with each section accommodating 60 buses. The six platforms inside can accommodate approximately 100 buses.
Facilities have been created to accommodate 2,000 buses arriving and departing daily. There are two modern parking lots, each capable of accommodating 2,500 two-wheelers. Ten shops have been constructed in the ‘E’ section. The bus stand handles approximately 100,000 passengers daily, so drinking water facilities have been provided at 7 locations, restrooms at 14 locations, and borewells at 8 locations. Passengers have access to all amenities, including prepaid auto rickshaws, a police station, and 192 surveillance cameras.
Currently poor condition: The bus stand is currently in poor condition, with the front floor damaged, walls and iron bars broken, sewage accumulation at various locations, broken electrical lights, and a dirty environment.
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Corporation has taken over maintenance, but 32 cleaners have been hired by a private company to clean the bus stand area daily. However, only half are reportedly on duty. Subbaiah, an auto driver in the area, says that most of the restrooms lack water supply and are not properly maintained.
The bus stand complex has been converted into a free hostel: 33 private security guards have been hired to protect the bus stand. However, it’s said that half of them aren’t even on duty. Therefore, more than 250 people have turned the bus stand complex into a free hostel, day or night.
These overstayers are causing water shortages, poor sanitation, and incidents like passengers’ mobile phones being stolen at night.
