Passengers a harried lot as HRTC abandons Jawali bus stand
Rajiv Mahajan
Nurpur, July 13
The bus stand built at Jawali, a sub-divisional headquarters in Kangra district, 15 years ago is crying for attention as it has been abandoned by the government authorities.
The bus stand, built at a cost of Rs 30.58 lakh in 2009, has been lying idle for a long time, as no bus enters its premises. Around 80 private and HRTC buses ply from Jawali daily, but no pick or drop facility is provided to the passengers at the bus stand.
As per information, the bus routes have been diverted to Keharian Chowk, 1 km from the bus stand. A lot of resentment is brewing among local residents and commuters who travel in the buses daily. People who used to visit Jawali town from the surrounding rural areas are a harried lot now. Commuters lament that when they visit the Civil Hospital, local market or a government office, they have to walk in the scorching heat before entering the town as the buses drop them on the outskirts of the town.
The Jawali bus stand, built by the state Bus Stand Management and Development Authority, was inaugurated on August 15, 2009, by the then Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal. The construction of the bus stand was completed in five years as its foundation stone was laid on April 4, 2004, by the then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.
But it wears a deserted look now and its premises are in a dilapidated condition due to the poor upkeep by the HRTC authorities. The other side of the bus stand has become a dumping site and heaps of waste are lying there, posing a health hazard.
Local shopkeepers and vendors are also facing difficulties as the idle bus stand has adversely hit their trading activities. In scorching heat and rains, customers avoid entering the Jawali markets after alighting 1 km from the town. The shopkeepers lamented that the route permits of the buses had been issued to the Jawali bus stand, but none of these entered the bus stand and the authorities concerned had turned a blind eye towards this issue.
Gopal Singh, HRTC Regional Manager of Pathankot depot, said he would take necessary action and direct the crew members to take buses to the bus stand and provide pick-and- drop facility to the passengers. He said a congested approach road, haphazardly parked vehicles and roadside encroachments were creating a hurdle in plying buses in the town.
Bus routes diverted on the outskirts
- The bus stand, built at a cost of Rs 30.58 lakh in 2009, has been lying idle as no bus enters its premises. Around 80 private and HRTC buses ply from Jawali daily, but no pick or drop facility is provided to the passengers at the bus stand
- As per information, the bus routes have been diverted from Keharian Chowk, 1 km from the bus stand
- Commuters lament that when they visit the Civil Hospital, local market or a government office, they have to walk in the scorching heat before entering the town as the buses drop them on the outskirts of the town
- Local shopkeepers and vendors are also facing difficulties as the idle bus stand has adversely hit their trading activities
- A congested approach road and roadside encroachments were creating a hurdle in plying buses in the town, said HRTC’s Regional Manager
