Port city sans bus shelters

Visakhapatnam: Commuters in this port city are forced to wait in hot sun with most bus shelters being devastated by Hudhud cyclone. Even the benches in majority of the shelters have been blown apart. But there is no sign of them being restored.

• Most of 450 bus stops in bad shape; 200 worst hit
• Schoolchildren, women forced to stand in hot sun
• Small traders, food vendors occupy the places

There are nearly 450 bus stops in the city, some built by APSRTC and others by corporate entities. Nearly 200 bus stops, especially in Venkojipalem, Isakathota, Appughar, Beach Road, Akkayyapalem Highway and Hanumanthawaka, were ravaged.

Bus drivers too face a major problem as they cannot identify the stops. Hundreds of students and passengers, including working women, wait at bus stops during morning rush hour on working days. Taking advantage of the situation, small traders and roadside food vendors establish bases at the bus shelters.

As most the bus shelters are built and maintained by corporate companies and advertising agencies, authorities have asked them to rebuild bus stops, according to Assistant City Planner of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Kishore Kumar. “As most of the shelters suffered severe damage, we are not sure how much time it will take to restore them,’’ he said.

An engineering student S Teja has complained that the bus-stop at Hanumanthwaka was completely damaged. All passengers have to wait on the road as there are no benches. Schoolchildren are facing acute problem as they are forced to wait on the margins of the road as the places where the bus shelters once stood have been occupied by small traders, said professor Sai Bala.

A student of Avanthi Engineering College A Sravani, who boards bus at Venkojipalem, said, “It’s tough time for us to stand in hot sun daily.” She requested GVMC to restore the bus stops at the earliest.