Vellore Corporation demolishes encroachments at the new bus terminus

Encroachments, mostly makeshift shops and extension of existing shops, were demolished inside the new bus terminus, off the Chennai – Bengaluru Highway (NH 48) in Vellore, bringing relief to hundreds of commuters.

Officials of Vellore Corporation, which executed the demolition drive, said that the civic body had received regular complaints from commuters that they were unable to board buses safely due to illegal stalls in the waiting area. “During evening hours, most of the walking space in the terminus was occupied by hawkers and temporary stalls. Women and senior citizens found it difficult to walk between these stalls to exit the bus bay area,” said R. Suganthi, a commuter. 

Commuters said that the new bus terminus has been a key transport hub to reach pilgrim centres like Tirupati, Tiruvannamalai, Sholinghur, and Kancheepuram. Buses to cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, and Coimbatore are also operated at the terminus.

However, commuters said that the facility remains unclean with garbage, including food wastes, spilt all over the bus bay area. Extension of existing shops on both sides of the bus bays also pose hinderance for commuters to walk safely.

After repeated complaints by commuters, Corporation officials led by Commissioner R. Lakshmanan inspected the facility a few days ago.

Following the inspection encroachments especially on both sides of the bus bays were removed. Most of the 40 illegal structures were temporary shops. Traders were warned against extension of the existing shops in the facility. Special teams were also formed by the civic body to monitor encroachments in future.

“The existing civic amenities in the facility will be improved. Lighting, adequate seating arrangements, and water taps will also be checked,” said Mr. Lakshmanan.