Operation of long distance buses bound for Ariyalur and a few other northern destinations from near Chathiram Bus Stand in the city has drawn flak from road users.
While the operation of 90% of long distance buses has been shifted to the new Integrated Bus Terminus at Panjappur from July, some routes from Tiruchi to Ariyalur, Jayamkondam, Virudhachalam, Chidambaram and other places still run from Chathiram Bus Stand, which basically caters to local buses. Since the bus stand does not have adequate space, a 50-metre stretch of busy road adjacent to the overhead water tank near it is being used as the informal boarding point for the north-bound long distance buses.
The practice, which was followed by a few bus crews about 15 years ago, has now become permanent. The bus crews initially chose to halt buses on the roadside. Thereafter, they began to operate buses from there. At present, nearly 65% of the road along the 50-metre-stretch is occupied by the bus crews.
At any point of time, three rows of buses, both private and State-run, are seen at the makeshift bus stand between 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. At least 10 buses wait in line to load passengers. All other activities relating to loading and offloading the passengers are also taking place in the area, shrinking the road space.
