Bus Station Watch 2: Bangalore Bus Station

No standing ovation by commuters
Space crunch, lack of amenities and a rest room for women plague this bus station.

Deccan Herald

This bus station misses the bus in almost every respect. It’s too congested, ill-equipped and badly maintained to cater to the needs of the flood of population that it draws every day. Yet, it continues to connect the State’s capital with every nook and corner of Karnataka.

Consider this: Over 2,500 buses operate from here to cater to over one lakh commuters every day. The number of commuters is over three lakh during weekends and during festivals. But it has just over 20 platforms, each with parking-space for just three buses at a time.

Result: The bus stand is severely jammed and there is hardly any space for parking buses. Of course, it is eventually the commuters who face the inconvenience.

Owing to dearth of space and lack of proper seating arrangements, majority of them are forced to either stand, waiting for their buses, while some (especially those aged and sick) end up sitting on the dust-filled floors inside the bus station.
This apart, amenities like pay-and-use toilets, drinking water tanks and the canteen are in pathetic condition. Toilets, as usual, stink 24/7. All the three drinking water tanks (all donated by private organisations) leak round the clock as the tanks are damaged.

In fact, poor maintenance of urinals is a reason why public use every available space around the bus station as urinals. Besides, toilet attendants charge exhorbitant fees. Most attendants collect Rs three against the fixed fee of Rs 1 for urinals. Though the public complaining about this, authorities have turned a blind eye.

Shops thrive

Despite the fact that the bus stand lacks adequate space, the KSRTC bus stand is gradually turning out to be a major shopping centre. With over 100 shops cropping up in recent times, one will get to shop anything from eatables, clothes and toys to electronic goods. How come the shops have mushroomed in this congested area? Officials have no convincing reply.

No rest room for women

Whether it is day or night, travellers find it unsafe to stay for long hours waiting for buses here as it is the hub of pickpockets and petty thieves .
An average of five cases of theft get registered every week. Moreover, it does not have a rest room exclusively for women.

COMMUTER CALLING

Ravish: There is no proper drinking water facility. The canteen is too dirty. Besides, shop owners charge exorbitant rate for every thing they sell here. All these have to be set right for the convenience of the commuters.

Raghunandan: Buses do not come on time. Buses are not parked in allotted slots and this makes us go in search of buses. Attendants at the toilet complex charge exhorbitant rates and almost all of toilets are stinking.

Ramanath: Not enough chairs for commuters to sit. We have to stand for hours till the bus arrives. Whenever I come here, I haven’t got any space to sit. It is not the case with me alone, most of those who come here are forced to stand.

Nagamani: There is no separate rest room for women. At times, we have to wait for several hours in the bus stand for buses. Where should women take rest till then?

Y G Gulamnavar: Facilities here are, by and large okay. But it needs to be kept clean. Though smoking is banned inside the bus stand, the rule is violated. The authorities should get tougher while implementing rules.

KSRTC RESPONSE
Ravindranath, Assistant Traffic Manager, KSRTC Bus Stand.

Bus stand gets congested only when additional buses are pressed into service.
Plans are afoot to construct one more platform to station more buses.
Fresh contracts have been awarded to keep the bus stand clean and officials inspect the bus stand every two hours.
There are sufficient seats inside the bus stand. The problem arises only during festival season.
Strict instructions have been issued to keep toilets clean. Action will be taken against attendants charging exorbitant fee, if commuters file complaints.
Permission has been given for shops as it not only earns revenue but has put a check on anti-social activities.