Many MTC bus commuters had to wait under the scorching sun to board buses in Chennai. To help these commuters, GCC has planned to build bus shelters at about 150 locations in Chennai.
By this, the frequent bus commuters would feel relieved as they would no longer have to wait for the buses under the scorching sun. A senior official belonging to GCC expressed his thoughts. He explained that there are many places in Chennai where the bus stops and these places do not have any shelter. Provisions have been made now for as many as 156 new bus shelters in Chennai. A tender has been floated for the modernisation of the bus shelters.
He then mentioned that the GCC would consider various requests from the public in the next 2 years and build new bus shelters. Point is that the tender conditions were included so that these new shelters would be built at a lesser cost whenever the need arises in the next 2 years.
The GCC has got plans to convert 1000 bus shelters in Chennai into stainless steel ones and building new shelters at less cost would be a part of the plan. It is said that 844 existing bus shelters would have heat resistant roofs. Information is that the display panels would have route numbers etc.
It was highlighted by some officials belonging to Chennai Corporation that the display panels would have information such as route maps with information about nearest public toilets and nearest landmarks etc. There would be Singara Chennai 2.0 logo on the bus shelters and these shelters would be friendly for the differently able persons etc.
The bus shelters would have ramps on both the sides and wheelchair users would be able to read the information on the display panels that would not be higher than 5 feet. Tactile flooring would be present on the bus shelters and bright coloured tapes would help many visually impaired persons etc.
It must be taken into account that in the build operate transfer the contracting firm would be allowed to collect revenue for advertisement display in designated places within the bus shelter. The contracting firm would pay a specific fee amount to the Chennai Corporation on an annual basis.
In Chennai, Skyrams currently operates 450 bus shelters and corruption allegations cropped against the firm recently. As per a GCC officer it was clear that re-tendering of shelters would be done in a phased manner as and when tender expires.