Bhubaneswar, Aug. 25: Multiple problems plague the biggest bus terminus of the state at Baramunda. While two approach roads on both the sides of the terminus are in pathetic shape, the state of affairs inside the terminus is no different.

The two approach roads are maintained by two agencies. The entry road was developed by the public works department and the exit road by the civic authorities.

But, local people alleged that the roads had not been repaired in about a decade.

“After writing several letters to the authorities concerned, we finally filled the craters with soil a week ago. But the patch work will not last as the roads need to be laid with reinforced concrete,” said Prakash Mishra, president of the Bhubaneswar Private Bus Owners’ Association.

Though 600 buses pass through the terminus everyday, it does not have proper lighting, drinking water and drainage facilities. There are also no toilets.

The bus terminus, which is also used by another 700 vehicles such as autorickshaws and cars everyday, is yet to be laid with concrete for better parking facilities.

The bus terminus complex was developed in 1994 on 14.47 acres. However, while a major portion was developed as the bus terminus, another patch towards Baramunda village is lying vacant. The central bus bay was laid with black top.

Mrutyunjay Tripathy, a resident of Baripada who frequently takes air-conditioned buses from Baramunda to reach his hometown, said: “I have been commuting through this bus terminus since my student days. But, there has been no change in the pathetic state of affairs.”

Master Apollo, a resident of Kalinga Vihar, said: “I use the terminus to take buses to Bhadrak everyday, where I work in a college. The state government is not paying any attention to develop the infrastructure and passenger amenities here.”

A senior official of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC), the operator of the bus terminus, said: “There are 47 toilets in the office building near the terminus, but the soak pit has collapsed. I wonder how the system is working here. The water supply pipes, electric wires and other fittings also need urgent repair.”

“There is no drainage system in the bus terminus. A contractor, who operates a vehicle service station near the exit road of the terminus, washes buses in such a manner that it makes the entire road muddy,” he added.

OSRTC general manager (administration) Prasanna Kumar Sarangi said: “We had signed a memorandum with a private organisation for development of a modern bus terminus here in 2010. But, the proposal was later rejected. Now, the state government plans to develop the terminus with its own fund.”

Another officer of the OSRTC said that the issue of the pathetic state of affairs at the bus terminus was raised in the meetings of the City Management Group on several occasions, but to no benefit.

Sources said that the Rail India Technical and Economic Service had already been given the responsibility to conduct a survey for a modern bus terminus at Baramunda. Once the report was received, the state government would move for budgetary provisions to develop infrastructure with a complete overhaul of the existing facilities there.

City engineer T.B.K. Shroff said the council of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation had taken a decision to hand over the responsibilities of all its roads to the public works department. Therefore, the public works department should look after both the entry and exit roads of the bus terminus.