(top) Passengers tread on the muddy stretches at Khadgarha bus stand in Ranchi; A virtual ditch on the bus stand premises. Pictures by Manik Bose

Ranchi, July 2: First impression, it seems, doesn’t matter to RRDA. Else, mud and ditches of varying shapes at the Khadgarha bus stand would not have welcomed visitors to the state capital.

Repeated requests from bus owners to improve the condition of the bus stand has failed to make an impact on authorities concerned.

The number of passengers visiting the bus stand has decreased by almost 50 per cent. Passengers who are walking to the bus stand are always at the risk of the ruining their clothes.

“Walking to the bus stand is an uncomfortable experience. Despite repeated requests to improve its condition, authorities have done little,” said Krishna Mohan Singh, the president of the Ranchi Bus Owners’ Association.

Those travelling with luggage can find no comfortable place to rest while waiting for the bus. “My mother could not walk to the bus stand. I have asked her to stand on the road instead. Once the bus arrives, I will bring her here,” said Sudhir Kumar, a passenger, who was waiting for the bus to Simdega today.

In fact, several others adopt this strategy. While the family waits on the road, few brave the muddy stretch inside the bus stand.

The city has three bus stands — near Station Road, near Ratu Road and the Khadgarha private bus stand. The one at the Station Road, which is used by government buses, is relatively better but the private bus stand at Ratu Road is in a sorry state.

However, the Khadgarha bus stand promises the worst experience but it has the capacity to house the maximum number of buses — over a thousand. These buses are the only link between the state capital and Jamshedpur, Simdega, Dhanbad, Bokaro and Hazaribagh, among others.

Buses to Bihar, Orissa, Bengal and Chhattisgarh also park at this bus stand.

Singh said the Ranchi Regional Development Authority (RRDA) earns around Rs 55 lakh as revenue per annum from buses using the Khadgarha bus stand. But it provides no service.

The poor condition of the bus stand is taking a toll on buses as well.

“Due to the thick mud, vehicles need a quick start and this causes problems in the gear box,” said a driver.

Members of the Bus Owners’ Association said they have called on the RRDA vice-chairperson Ved Prakash Narayan Singh with a request to improve the condition of the bus stand. “Or else we would be forced to park our vehicles on the road,” the president of the bus owners’ association said.

The RRDA vice-chairperson has joined office recently and said he would take some time to understand the system.