Stagnant sewage at bus terminus in Tiruvannamalai irks commuters

Commuters had to wade through stagnant sewage at the ₹34-crore modern bus terminus on Chennai – Tindivanam Road in Tiruvannamalai town on Sunday due to a pipeline burst.

Commuters said that stagnant sewage near the bus bays made the floor slippery and slushy. “After worship at Arunachaleswara temple on Pournami day, we came to the terminus to board a bus to our native town in Villupuram. Stagnated sewage water poses health risks for commuters, who come along with their children,” said K. Mangalam, a commuter.

Commuters said that apart from travellers, buses also have to navigate through the stagnated sewage to reach the bus bays.

Officials of Tiruvannamalai Corporation, which maintains the facility, said that the terminus was aimed at providing bus connectivity for devotees. During weekdays, 80,000 to 1.2 lakh visitors come to the town, mainly to worship at Arunachaleswara temple. During Chitra Pournami, around 25 lakh devotees throng the town for worship.

Corporation officials said that civic staff were alerted by a timekeeper at the terminus regarding the seepage. Due to water pressure on the pipelines, the valve burst could have occurred. The damaged valve and pipeline have been repaired to prevent further seepage of sewage. “Stagnated sewage has been drained out using motor pump sets. Such valve bursts occur in the pipelines periodically. Efforts have been taken to ensure hygiene in the facility,” S. Selva Balaji, Commissioner, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, told The Hindu.