By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

Months after Coimbatore Corporation announced plans to establish 32 bus shelters along Avinashi Road in the city, commuters continue to wait as none have been set up.

Several existing shelters were removed when the State Highways Department began work on the 10-km Avinashi Road flyover between Uppilipalayam and Goldwins, which includes eight ramps. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is expected to inaugurate the flyover on October 9.

The civic body had planned the construction of new shelters in March this year, identifying 15 locations from Uppilipalayam to Goldwins and 17 locations on the return stretch. At the time, the Corporation said the shelters would be set up under an advertisement-based model due to fund shortage in the Highways Department.

Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran said that since the Coimbatore Metro rail will run on the left side of Avinashi Road, new shelters on that side were not included in the plan. “When the metro comes, there may be changes or removal of shelters, so we decided to upgrade the existing ones there and plan new shelters on the other side. Tenders for the project were floated, but there were no takers. We are now addressing the concerns involved before re-tendering the project,” he explained.

Coimbatore Consumer Cause secretary K. Kathirmathiyon said the Corporation must not cite the unconfirmed metro rail project as a reason to stall the installation of bus shelters. “Bus shelters are designed to be removable and have frequently been relocated in the past. Delaying their setting up leaves commuters vulnerable to sun and rain, which is unacceptable,” he said.