DJ Venkatesh
Port Blair, Nov 12: Termed a Modern Terminal, the STS Bus Terminus at Rangat in Middle Andaman is all about garbage, dirt, water logging and stench from urinals greeting hundreds of commuters on a daily basis. Inaugurated two years ago by the then Lt. Governor, Bhopinder Singh for the benefit of bus passengers, the terminus stands a perfect testimony of government apathy towards maintenance of public assets and services.
Awaiting major revamp, the Modern Bus Terminus has become a source of constant discomfort for more than 600 passengers, who avail transport to various destinations in the North and Middle Andaman region as also Port Blair. ATR Night travellers are particularly harried as they are forced to bear the unhygienic conditions for hours before boarding the bus. Clogged urinals, unclean wash basins, defunct fans, crumbling floor etc have made journey from the terminus a backbreaking routine for the passengers.
“Had there been any other option, I would have never come to this terminus to take a bus,” says Binod Halder of Nimbutala.
The condition of the terminus has worsened in the recently months. Commuters are appalled at the unhygienic conditions and hope that the authorities would pay due attention to the problem. ATR night passengers arrive at the terminus at about 2 pm from various parts of Middle and North Andaman and have to wait for hours to board the bus.
But the clogged urinals, both Male and Female, make the wait even more upsetting. Dirt overflows from the urinals and accumulate on the floor. The unbearable stench emanating from the toilets further add to the woes. As you can see, while shoes are drenched with human excrete and I will have to remain in this condition till the reaching my destination, he complains.
“Besides toilets, other basic amenities are also missing from this so called Modern Bus Terminus. Ceiling fans don’t work. The concrete floors have been damaged within two years of its construction. Such is the state that even a minor drizzle leads to water accumulation in the premise. Two wall clocks have been installed in the terminus. But both show different times. Smokers prefer to urinate in the open rather than using the in-house lavatories further creating unhygienic conditions in the terminus,” says Babita Mondal of Dasarathpur.
The top brass of the local government should immediately intervene and direct immediate revamp of public amenities in the Rangat Bus Terminus for the benefit of scores of travellers from the region. The State Transport Department should initiate prompt steps for repair and maintenance of the terminus. Besides, efforts should also be made for proper upkeep of the facilities in future.
