CHENNAI: Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) crew members frequent the shopping complex situated diagonally opposite the JJ Nagar West Bus Terminus, only to use the toilets at the complex. Similar is the plight of hapless commuters, who are forced to urinate on the compound walls, in the absence of toilets at the terminus. “We wait for the bus in such a worse situation,” rued Mustafa, a Class 11 student from Ayanambakkam. “The terminus doesn’t have shelters as well and public have to take shelter under the trees,” he added. The situation at the JJ Nagar East Bus Terminus is equally pathetic, but somewhat different. Here, bushes and shrubs on the fringes of the terminus provide cover for those in an ‘emergency’.Passengers prefer waiting outside the terminus, in a bid to keep away from the dust flying across the premises with every gust of wind. “It is worse during the nights. The bus terminus looks like a burial ground,” observed Sundar, a native of Thoothukudi, and a resident of Mogappair the past 15 years.However, the situation in south Chennai, which is considered to be the ‘better side’ of the city, is equally bad. M Samy*, a conductor at the Foreshore Estate Bus Terminus, who is awaiting his transfer, is forced to paint a rosy picture about the bus stand, “Our department is maintaining the toilets well and they are being cleaned regularly. There is no problem.” However, he hurriedly added, “I am waiting for a transfer and I don’t want my comment to affect that. The toilets are truly terrible.”The Mandaveli Bus Terminus is no better either. While the toilet is under use, it is poorly maintained. “Toilets in all bus terminuses were maintained perfectly for two weeks after the new Transport Minister raised concerns. Then things went back to square one. Despite the fact that we have unions,our department does not take care of its own employees. Do you think they will bother about the commuters?” asked Vijay, a driver. “Ideally, there should be well-maintained rest rooms at bus terminuses, both for the passengers and the staff. But I am happy that there is, at least, a bus terminus functioning. Officials just don’t care as they have their government-provided air-conditioned cars. They should be made to travel to work on these buses for a month. And even then one can’t say for sure that they will learn from it,” fumed B Sundari, a professor of Physics.
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