For over six months, passengers and staff at the Panjapur KKBT bus terminus in Trichy have been grappling with a persistent and crippling problem: extremely weak mobile network signals. Despite the terminus being commissioned half a year ago, complaints about call drops and patchy internet service remain unresolved, severely impacting daily operations and commuter convenience.
Digital Payments Grind to a Halt
The poor network, affecting all major service providers, has dealt a heavy blow to the cashless ecosystem at the busy terminus. The situation is particularly acute for Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus conductors. Although equipped with point-of-sale (POS) machines to facilitate digital transactions, the unreliable signals often make this impossible.
Conductors face significant delays in issuing tickets, leading to frustration for everyone on board. A Kalidas, a TNSTC employee stationed at Panjapur, highlighted the domino effect: "Weak network causes conductors to issue the ticket with a delay. Sometimes, frustrated passengers get off the bus and rush in search of ATMs to withdraw cash."
Passengers and Businesses Bear the Brunt
The issue extends far beyond bus ticketing. Kiosk operators on the platforms and local shopkeepers who rely on QR code-enabled payments are equally affected, losing business when transactions fail. Passengers report that the problem intensifies during peak hours, long holidays, and weekends when footfall sees a significant spike.
Many point to the area's infrastructure lag as a root cause. Panjapur was largely a remote zone with only a few educational institutions and showrooms before the terminus was built. Locals and daily commuters allege that the commissioning of the major transport hub was not accompanied by the installation of new mobile signal towers to handle the increased demand.
Official Assurance and the Path Forward
In response to the growing complaints, Municipal Administration Minister K N Nehru has provided an assurance. He stated that the District Collector will take necessary steps and inform the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to address and rectify the weak mobile signal complaints in Panjapur.
This intervention brings hope to thousands who use the terminus daily. The resolution is critical not just for convenience but for enabling the digital India vision, where seamless digital transactions are a cornerstone of public service and commerce. The next few weeks will reveal if this promise translates into stronger signals and smoother journeys for Trichy's commuting public.
