Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jan 11: The Mangaluru City bus stand, located at State Bank, is a key transportation hub where people converge to board buses destined for every corner of the district. Unfortunately, the cleanliness of the bus stand is not up to the standards it should be. Upon entering the bus stand, the public is met with the foul smell of urine and a generally untidy environment due to littering.
Despite having two public toilets, bus conductors, drivers, and the public often resort to urinating on the walls of the bus stand, which then flows onto the newly constructed footpath. The footpath, originally intended for pedestrians, has turned into an unpleasant and unusable space due to continuous urination. The concrete has blackened, and the foul smell makes it difficult for pedestrians to walk comfortably.
Despite significant financial investment by the administration in constructing the footpath for pedestrians, it remains largely unused due to the nuisance caused by bus drivers, conductors, and the public at the bus stand.
A bus driver explains, "Bus drivers and conductors operate on tight schedules and are often in a hurry to embark on the next trip. Consequently, they opt for open urination on the walls. Unfortunately, this behaviour is then mirrored by the public. The public toilet is located 200 meters away from the bus parking on the other side of the bus stand. To save time, people choose not to use the public toilet, leading to urination on the walls. The proximity of our bus parking to this area makes it challenging for us to take a break due to the persistent foul smell. I also urge for the construction of an additional public toilet closer to the bus stand for urgent needs."
He further notes, "The Mangaluru bus stand is not yet fully developed; certain portions lack roofing, causing inconvenience to passengers during hot weather and the monsoon. The concerned administration should prioritize the speedy development of the bus stand to address these issues promptly."