At the bustling heart of Chennai's Guindy transit hub, a crucial bus stop is failing thousands of daily commuters due to severe neglect and inadequate infrastructure. The Race Course Road bus stop, managed by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), presents a stark picture of urban inconvenience despite its prime location next to both the Guindy suburban railway and metro stations.
Daily Struggles at a Key Transit Point
The stop, which serves nearly 50 bus routes, lacks the most basic amenities. Commuters find no seating arrangements, forcing many to sit on the ground or on sharp-edged cement slabs. The only shelter is a tin roof riddled with holes, offering little protection. There are no drinking water facilities, and the absence of CCTV cameras raises security concerns.
A diverse cross-section of the public relies on this stop. Aviation students with heavy backpacks, elderly women selling broomsticks and flowers, and office-goers all endure the same conditions. K Chitrarani, who sells broomsticks in Poonamallee, highlighted the excessive dust from nearby construction, noting she sometimes uses her own brooms to clean the area.
Chaos from Bus Bunching and Poor Lighting
Adding to the commuters' woes is the frequent phenomenon of bus bunching, where multiple buses arrive back-to-back. During a non-peak hour visit on January 3 between 1:45 PM and 1:50 PM, an astonishing 10 buses arrived consecutively. This forced passengers to walk nearly 100 meters as the vehicles lined up chaotically down the road. Police confirm that this traffic congestion worsens significantly during peak hours.
The problems extend into the night due to insufficient illumination. Although four LED lights were installed following a request from bus stop timekeeper A Perumal, they often malfunction in the evenings. This leaves commuters dependent on their mobile phone flashlights to navigate and board buses safely.
Official Responses and Promised Upgrades
When confronted with these issues, MTC Joint Managing Director and official spokesperson R Sundarapandian stated that the problem had not been formally flagged earlier. He assured that seating facilities would be installed at the stop soon.
Health and Family Welfare Minister and Saidapet MLA Ma Subramanian provided a broader timeline for a permanent solution. He had laid the foundation stone for a new bus shelter about 300 meters away in October. However, this plan was stalled due to the Greater Chennai Corporation's pedestrian plaza work on Race Course Road.
The minister outlined the future plan: the existing dilapidated shelter will be dismantled. It will be replaced by a new, modern facility equipped with a toilet, a breastfeeding room, drinking water, and CCTV surveillance. "Road widening should be over in two-three months, and the new shelter should be ready by May," Subramanian stated, offering a hopeful deadline for the long-suffering commuters.
