RailEnquiry

HOWRAH: Clothes, rags and bedding hang from railings and from ropes tied across two ends of the ceiling - that's the 'passenger shed' at the Howrah bus stand. Thousands of commuters who use the terminus - one of the busiest in the state - have to brave the heat or rain while waiting for their bus every day because the sheds have been occupied by anti-socials and vagabonds. "Even if the sheds are rundown and without any seats, we could at least stand under the roofs earlier. Now, even during the hot summer months, we have to stand under the sun in the parking bay. Anti-socials have made the sheds their private property," said Sujit Haldar of Thakurpukur.This happens to be the condition of the terminus after it got a 'facelift' about a year ago. The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), its custodian, renovated and repaired the parking bays, but nothing was done to improve passenger amenities. The waiting sheds attached to each parking bay are in a shambles and have been encroached upon.Subhasis Chakraborty of Asansol, who uses the terminus every day to commute to Kolkata from the station, was once almost beaten up by some goons for arguing with them. He wanted to take shelter under the shed near the route number S12 bay. Chakraborty was chased off by a youth for touching the latter's belongings kept in the shed.

"I was feeling a little uneasy and, hence, wanted to hold on to the railing of the waiting shed. I was shocked when a youth threatened me with dire consequences for 'laying my hands on his belongings'. I tried to reason with him. But fellow commuters asked me to stay away from these goons. Can't we expect at least a waiting shed at such a huge bus terminus that would be of great relief for the old and children," wondered Chakraborty.

KMDA CEO Vivek Bhardwaj admitted that there was a lack of passenger amenities and the need to improve the bus terminus further. "Four years ago, we had prepared a master plan for improving traffic flow and beautifying the entire stretch around Howrah station. But we were told not to go ahead with the plan as the railways had a plan to turn the terminus into a word-class facility. Therefore, we just went ahead with some cosmetic changes. There is huge scope for improvement," said Bhardwaj.

Stall owners at the terminus said that while some of the vagabonds living in the sheds use the place for taking drugs at night, rowdies also use the place for anti-social activities. Once the bus terminus becomes deserted at night, they have a free run.

"At night, the terminus becomes a hangout zone for anti-socials. I have seen many of them carrying bottles of liquor. No one dares to argue with them," said a stall owner.