Garbage and wastewater clog Badambadi bus stand in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

The Angul bus stand in Cuttack is in dismal state. Passengers have difficulty walking through the slippery muck.

Cuttack, July 25: The Odisha State Road Transport Corporation has decided to spend Rs 40 lakh for developing infrastructure at three major bus stands of here — Badambadi, Angul and Puri.

“A total of Rs 40 lakh has been sanctioned for improvement of basic amenities at the three bus stands. While development work has already begun at the Angul and Badambadi bus stands, work will begin soon at the Puri bus stand,” said OSRTC law officer Gopal Jena.

Jena also said over 20 per cent work to level the ground of the Angul bus stand in Cuttack had been completed. Once the ground levelling is complete, a concrete floor will be built at the bus stand to solve issues related to waterlogging.

A tender will also be floated for the repair and renovation work of the existing toilets at the Badambadi bus stand.

The three major bus stands of Cuttack city have been running without basic infrastructure for long.

The Badambadi bus stand, one of the busiest terminals in the state, lacks provisions for drinking water and toilet facilities.

While there are about 20 urinals in four toilet complexes for gentlemen at the Badambadi bus stand, there is no toilet for ladies. Even the male toilet complex is maintained so poorly that people prefer open spaces than those urinals to respond to nature’s call.

The Badambadi bus stand, which is known to people for filth and dirt all around it, also lacks a proper drainage system.

“Waste is found dumped almost everywhere in the Badambadi bus stand, which does not have any dustbin. Waterlogging at its entry and exit points also cause severe inconvenience to us,” said Shraddhananda Behera, a passenger from Barbil.

Over 10,000 passengers depend on the Badambadi bus stand, which was established in over five acres in 1974.

The OSRTC, however, never paid any attention to develop infrastructure here, said another passenger waiting for a bus at Badambadi.

“There is acute waterlogging at Badambadi, especially during the rainy season. Passengers have to wade through ankle-deep water here every monsoon. From the poor state of affairs at the bus stand, anyone can understand that the authorities have turned a blind eye to it,” said Trilochan Sahu, a local resident.

Lack of infrastructure is also creating problems for parking of buses at the bus stands of Badambadi, Angul and Puri. More than 200 buses can always be found parked on the main road near Badambadi bus stand up to Link Road, creating hurdles for the smooth flow of traffic.

OSRTC authorities, however, said that efforts had already begun for the development of infrastructure at the three bus stands.

While encroachers were evicted from the Angul bus stand in May, provisions for lighting, drinking water and waiting halls would be completed at all these three bus stands within a month, said an OSRTC official.