Demand grows for improved facilities at bus stand on Mettupalayam Road

Bus stand on Mettupalayam Road faces maintenance challenges, including drainage issues, broken facilities, and deteriorating infrastructure.

A bus stand on Mettupalayam Road in Coimbatore city, built in 2010 at ₹8 crore, has not undergone renovation or repair work since its inauguration and requires measures to set right maintenance issues and infrastructure concerns.

With a capacity to accommodate around 100 buses on routes to Mettupalayam, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Udhagamandalam, Gudalur, and Bengaluru, the bus stand serves an average of 5,000 passengers daily. However, the facility faces significant challenges, including blocked drainage system, stagnant sewage, and mosquito infestation.

K. Grahabagavan, a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation official overseeing operations at the bus stand, highlighted the persistent drainage problems: “The drainage system is blocked for over five years, resulting in stagnant sewage and a severe mosquito infestation. The wastewater from the canteen also does not flow out due to the blockage. Either daily mosquito fogging should be done, or the Corporation should clear the block,” he said.

Commuters also struggle due to lack of basic amenities. “Out of the four toilets, only two are functional. A few seats are broken in the bus stand. There is no dedicated waiting area for women and no access to purified drinking water facility,” said a commuter.

“Drivers and conductors do not have proper resting area and only use the facilities at a nearby bus depot,” said H. Ramesh, a bus driver.

The infrastructure, including the damaged roofs above the bus bays, shows signs of deterioration and poses potential risks to those using the bus stand.

The bus stand was designed to generate revenue through commercial spaces. But, of the three designated spaces, only one is operational, with the other two remaining closed since the COVID-19 lockdown.