Of course this monsoon has not succeeded in pushing any of the passengers in mud filled filthy entrance at Birsa Munda Bus Terminus at Khadgarha in the city. Nor has it been able to create a number of smaller water bodies around bus bays, where passengers used to slip into and come out mud bathed, helpless, abusing and accusing authorities during rainy days.
And of course there is no more jam and long queues of buses at exit gate, thanks to newly constructed building, pathways, road and concrete plastered ground inside Bus Stand. Things those were destined to change have changed but unfortunately precious little.
Even after eight months of its inauguration, almost entire newly built Building at Birsa Munda Bus Terminus stands non-operational. Empty enquiry and ticket counters and locked dormitories tell the story of how city body disrespects its own otherwise beautiful creation.
Even basic amenities like drinking water remain inaccessible for passengers here. The bus terminal that boasts of an administrative building and a shed area spread across 72,000 sq ft, has 19 bus bays, two food plaza, 32 booking counters, two enquiry counters besides separate dormitories and lavatories for men and women.
“Except a Sulabh Complex constructed some 100 yards off main entrance, major part of the newly constructed building has been non-operational. The Food Plaza is not functional, the ticket counters and a number of shops remain empty for one reason or the other. No one knows where to make a complaint,” said one Salim Khan, who claimed to be providing care taking services with a dozen of personnel at peak hours in the morning and evening inside the stand.
Almost three 3-months have passed after Mayor Asha lakra had said in November last year, “The bus terminus is yet not ready because few paper work such as contract papers, tenders and others is still in progress. We would even take time to recruit, select staff to run the place that will take another two-three months’ time.”
There are more rumours and questions in and around Bus Stand than answers which authorities claim to have for making Khadgarha Bus Stand fully functional. “They (authorities) come up with a tender for one shop or the other, get tender filled by a number of vendors. But at the time of bidding, they quote so high that nobody makes a final bidding and the whole process makes way for another similar process. But yes, they capture the tender fees every time, and is has turned to be a good business proposition for them,” said a shopkeeper with shop in new building.
“It is not as simple as anyone says. We are trying our best to make the entire building functional as soon as possible. Only paper works are taking more than expected time,” said Deputy Mayor Sanjiv Vijayvargiya. On question of locked dormitories, he said that all will be made available for commuters at the earliest.