The Hindu 18.07.2013
Illegal bus shelters removed
The Chennai Corporation on Wednesday started removing
illegal bus shelters that had cropped up along the city’s bus routes in
recent months.
The work that commenced in all the
zones followed an instruction given by the Corporation commissioner a
few weeks ago to ensure the completion of the drive.
The operation gained significance after some officials and councillors were found promoting illegal bus shelters.
“We
installed five shelters to help residents cope with the monsoon and
summer. But the officials removed those bus shelters on Second Avenue
and the 100 ft road without informing us. The officials should install
modern bus shelters as soon as possible,” said Ku. Barani, councillor of
ward 99 in Thirumangalam.
However, officials at the
zonal level said the shelters were causing a loss of revenue. Many of
the councillors were collecting Rs. 5,000 per bus shelter every month
from advertisers, an official said.
“We will fix a
board after removing such illegal shelters, warning councillors of
criminal action. We have spared those shelters mired in legal wrangles
as they can be removed only after a court order is passed,” said a zonal
official.
All illegal bus shelters, estimated at over 200, are expected to be removed by Friday.
“They
removed three bus shelters in Chintadripet. We have to request
Corporation officials to commission modern bus shelters before the
monsoon. Commuters should not suffer,” said Ali Khan Basheer, councillor
of ward 63.
The Corporation had planned to
commission modern bus shelters and entirely foot the bill for the
facilities after deciding to shelve the public private partnership (PPP)
mode. As part of its proposal to install 500 of the stainless steel
shelters, the civic body had invited bids for their construction across
the city.
After the civic body finds a solution to
legal wrangles, the proposal for construction of modern bus shelters in
more than 1, 000 bus stops under the second phase will be taken up.