Dera Bassi bus stand a picture of neglect

Satinder Pal Singh

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Dera Bassi, February 28

Efforts by the Municipal Council, Dera Bassi, to ensure sanitation at the bus stand here have failed to yield any result as open urination continues on the broken walls of toilets due to poor maintenance.

Stench emanating from the toilets welcomes passengers to the bus stand. Thousands of commuters use the bus stand everyday, which is located on the Ambala-Chandigarh Highway.

Facilities for passengers are non-existent despite that fact that the department concerned is earning enough money through bus stand fee and rent from shops on its premises.

Sources said lack of basic facilities at the bus stand in Dera Bassi, infrequent services of buses and lack of any information mechanism had once again highlighted the need for better public transport facilities for commuters. Women, especially the elderly, find it difficult and hesitate to ask people for the toilets.

Gurdev Singh, a commuter from Saidpura, said unclean toilets pose health risk to people here. The Municipal Council should maintain it properly and make sufficient toilets available on the premises.

Budhi Raja, a shopkeeper said, huge space was available at the bus stand, but the poor condition of toilets poses a serious health hazard. New toilets should be constructed with basic amenities. If toilets are cleaned and maintained properly, commuters will not urinate in the open.

The sources said some part of the bus stand was encroached upon by illegally parked taxis and rehriwallas.

Commuters said one could see people standing at platforms and waiting for buses due to the absence of enough benches to sit on. Lack of hygiene is a cause for concern. Shops near the area sell eatables in the open. Absence of dustbins adds to the woes.

The commuters also want information booths to be set up at the bus stand with someone to answer their queries. With no information available, one has to literally be on its toes to keep a track on when a particular bus is arriving or departing.

Rajinder Singh, one of the commuters, said: “Shopkeepers fix rates arbitrarily and demand according to their whims and fancies. There seems to be no check on their business,” he said.

Rajesh Sharma, Executive Officer of the Municipal Council, Dera Bassi, said a proposal to construct a new bus stand had been sent to the authorities concerned. It would be executed soon. The maintenance of existing toilets would be monitored.