Passengers hit by lack of bus shelters on Udupi-Manipal route

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, May 26: With the widening of the busy Udupi-Manipal road in progress, almost all major bus stands on the entire stretch were razed down to facilitate the widening works. The Udupi-Manipal stretch is part of the Malpe-Molakalmuru State Highway 25.

In the scorching mid-May heat, there was no shelter for passengers waiting for the commuters. It is not just the bus-stands even the trees in the nearby area have been brought down. Hence there was no shade at all from the blazing sun for the people waiting for the buses.

The important stops where previously there were bus-stands and where there is none now on the Udupi-Manipal Road are: Kadiyali, Sharada Mantapa, MGM College (only on one side), and Lakshmindra Nagara. Besides, there were no bus stands at Kalsanka, MGM Ladies Hostel, and Railway Station Cross Road.

General Secretary of Udupi Zilla Nagarika Samiti Nityananda Volakadu said with the frequency of city buses declining during non-peak hours, passengers have to wait in the scorching sun. “During afternoons, it is difficult for the people to stand in the sizzling heat and wait for the buses,” he said.

President of Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) Kiran Kumar told The Hindu that the Public Works Department (PWD), which was carrying out the widening works, was yet to hand over the street lights installed at the centre of the road to the CMC. “This has stalled the construction of the bus stands,” he added.

The CMC would identify the spots where the bus stands would have to come up, within a week. “Already four advertising firms have come forward to take up the construction of the bus-stands,” Mr. Kumar said.

Executive Engineer of Public Works Department Suresh Shetty said the CMC would have to take permission from the department for construction of the bus-stands. But the PWD would not object to it, he said.