BANGALORE: With summer already around the corner, the lack of bus shelters has exacerbated this problem even more. One such place in the city where residents are re-living the horrors of absolutely no bus shelters is the New Tippasandra Junction near BEML coach factory.When City Express interacted with a few citizens who utilised the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses on a regular basis, opinions were very similar. R Rajagopal Shastri, a resident, said, “Previously there was a bus shelter here for the people who were heading towards Old Airport Road, CV Raman Nagar and Marathahalli. However, the bus shelter was demolished due to road widening work. Since then, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials are least bothered about the problems of the travellers. Today, none of these four roads have any bus shelters.” He further added, “It becomes even more troublesome for senior citizens like us to stand under the scorching sun.” Voicing a similar opinion, Abhishek, a student of Christ College in Koramangala, said, “Basically I travel in my bike, but sometimes I do use the bus facility and that is when you realise the absence of any shelter. I started traveling by bike so that I don’t have to travel in BMTC buses since we have to wait for buses for a long time and that too without any shelter.”Another resident Das informed City Express, “It is also very difficult to cross the road as vehicular traffic is on the rise at all times. The authorities should at least put some zebra crossing to help pedestrians cross the road.” Agreeing to Das, Rajiv a commuter said, “I travel to Old Madras Road regularly and I have to bear the brunt of lack of a bus shelter almost everyday. To top it all, whenever there is lack of parking facilities at the BEML compound, the vehicles will be parked outside and this eventually affects the traffic also.”When City Express contacted the Chairman of Standing Committee of Town Planning, C K Ramamurthy, he said, “As of now 168 bus shelters are ready for the tender process. The proposals are pending in the council meeting. Once it is approved by the council, the bus shelters will be ready within three months or so. We are also sending officials for inspection for placement of bus shelters in different parts of Bangalore.” The area corporator Sumithra was unavailable for any comments.
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