Pickpockets, hawkers take over bus stands

Pickpockets, hawkers take over bus stands
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: It seems the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has been spending money on upgrading bus terminals at Majestic and other areas only to see pickpockets, hawkers and prostitutes take over the public utilities.

The pathways, which connect Kempegowda Bus Stand from different locations is full, with hawkers making it very difficult for commuters to use them.

With police and security guards colluding with hawkers, there is no one to take care of commuters. The presence of prostitutes and eunuchs makes the place disagreeable.

Pickpockets are a constant threat. They appear unfailingly whenever there is overcrowding. Commuters, who are in hurry to get into a bus, are their easy targets.

‘‘Only, on Sunday, a commuter lost his wallet here while boarding a bus. There is no one to crackdown on pickpockets,’’ complained a commuter A Raju.

Hygiene is a casualty, especially at Tamil Nadu buses terminal. With no urinals, passengers have turned its compound wall into one.

City Market and Kalasipalyam bus terminals are two of the most congested spots in Bangalore and are a sign of total neglect. People urinate just about anywhere and even the urinals are not cleaned. It is a wonder how people step into these areas.

At Shivajinagar bus terminal, there is no place for commuters to wait for buses. The officials concerned have no time to remove the few unused cabins.

With the cabins occupying most of the space on the platform, commuters have to struggle to board a bus whenever there is a mad rush.

With Domlur, the bus terminal is located at a congested location, while Jayanagar bus stand is not big enough to accommodate buses or waiting commuters.

The situation at Banasankari bus stand is chaotic, specially with traffic from four roads merging near it.

‘‘Most of the buses never stop at this bus stand. We have to wait for quite a long time to get a bus here,’’ laments Sivappa, who commutes to Majestic daily.