Bus shelter opened at Mannarpuram

A bus shelter built along the service road on Madurai-Tiruchi National Highway near Mannarpuram roundabout was opened in the city on Saturday.

The shelter was sanctioned at cost of about ₹60 lakh by Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko from the MP Local Area Development Fund, taking into account the hardships faced by commuters boarding and alighting buses at the spot.

The roundabout has emerged as a major boarding point for long-distance travellers and commuters after the commissioning of the Integrated Bus Terminus (IBT) at Panjapur. Several commuters have been boarding mofussil buses at Mannarpuram to save time and money, rather than going up to IBT.

Mofussil buses pick up passengers from impromptu halts along the service road on Madurai-Tiruchi National Highway, alongside the Mannarpuram flyover. However, in the absence of bus shelters on the stretch, passengers are exposed to vagaries of nature. The problem was first highlighted in The Hindu.

Mr. Durai Vaiko inspected the spot along with National Highways Authority of India and Corporation officials in November last and subsequently sanctioned the funds. On Saturday, he unveiled the modern shelter.

“The bus shelter is the need of the hour for the people of Tiruchi and neighbouring districts,” said H. Ghouse Baig, a civic activist, appreciating the public-friendly amenities at the bus shelter.

Bridge construction

Speaking to reporters on the occasion, Mr. Durai Vaiko said he would soon hold a meeting to review the progress of construction of the road over bridge coming up near Fort Station Road in Tiruchi.

“I have been closely following the project and there has been some delay on the part of the railways and the Corporation too. I have already impressed upon the need to expedite the project as the prolonged closure of the road is causing traffic congestion in the city, “ he said to a query.