The delay-ridden refurbishment plan of the two Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBT) of the Capital — Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan — has left these facilities in a shambles.
Broken roads, waterlogging, crumbling bus shelters, stinking toilets and open sewers on its premises greets people. lack of security and signage there are enough to make one insecure, especially lone woman commuters. Ironically with such state of affairs, the city is being presented as a world-class one.
Nearly 1,500 buses ply to neighbouring States of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand from the Anand Vihar ISBT, which caters to over one lakh travellers every day. Built on the Delhi-Ghaziabad border, this bus terminal was created 17 years ago and is one of the busiest transport hubs in East Delhi. However, it has not been redeveloped even once after that.
“There isn’t proper facility for the passengers in the terminal. Roads leading to the platform are dug up and plagued with pot-holes. Sewers are lying open and platforms have been completely taken over by hawkers making the area highly insecure for women,” said Shweta Rai, a traveller heading to Agra.
Similar is the condition of Sarai Kale Khan bus terminus. The passengers boarding from here have to confront unhygienic restrooms, stray dogs and sandy waiting rooms which defy description of any sorts. Disgruntled with the sorry state of the terminus, passengers prefer not to travel alone due to safety concerns.
“The terminus is so poorly lit that after dark, it feels like a haunted place. Forget about frisking, security guards are nowhere to be seen. Anyone can just walk in casually. What if one is a terrorist among the crowdIJ There are no equipment or machines to check,” said Abhilash Ahuja, who was boarding a bus for Mathura.
The Sarai Kale Khan terminus was made operational in 1993. It caters to about 800 buses and receives a footfall of more than 50,000 passengers daily. Over the years, its condition has deteriorated and it looks like an abandoned structure. “First, it is difficult to locate the entrance, and then you will not find any one at the enquiry counter to guide you. Toilets are stinking and there is no water. In fact, their doors are also broken. Filth and garbage are scattered all around,” Raj Kumar Singh, who was on his way to Vrindavan.
Another passenger complained, “Recently, the Capital has witnessed several cases of crime against women, but the appalling state at Sarai Kale Khan Bus Terminus shows the authority’s complete lack of concern over the matter.” With scores of international tourists visiting Delhi, the dilapidated condition of these bus terminuses speaks volume of the concerned authorities and their lackadaisical attitude towards providing a safe, clean, hygienic and pleasant journey to them.