Commuters wait in the open at a bus bay in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, June 22: Commuters using the city bus service will find themselves running for cover frequently during the monsoon, as the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is yet to erect sheds at the bus bays in various parts of the capital.

The public works department (PWD) had built a number of bus bays nearly three months ago, but passenger convenience seems to be low on the priority list of the authorities. BMC sources said the PWD had already set up 21 bus bays out of the proposed 55 in the first phase.

The bays have been built at a cost of between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 10 lakh depending on the location and surroundings. However, the BMC, which is supposed to build the rest sheds on a public private partnership (PPP) mode, is yet to take up the job.

With no rest sheds, commuters who have been trying to find some respite from the sun under nearby trees will find themselves drenched as the rain comes in. “It could rain any time, but the civic authorities have not provided rest shades at the newly-built bays. It’s very uncomfortable for those waiting for a bus,” said Abani Sahoo, an employee working for a private organisation who takes his bus from Satya Nagar.

Officials of Dream Team Sahara said the bus bays could not be used unless proper rest sheds were built.

“Passengers are not willing to wait for buses at these bays because basic facilities are not available. As a result, our operators are forced to pick up passengers from random spots on the road,” said chief executive officer of DTS Sudhanshu Jena.

Without rest sheds at the bus bay, city buses stop in the middle of the road to pick up and drop passengers, creating a traffic hazard.

The city bus service, which was introduced on October 10, 2010, has 95 buses running on 13 routes and covers Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Around 37,000 to 42,000 passengers depend on the service. The rest sheds will be built on public-private-partnership (PPP) mode. These will also have uniform display areas for putting up advertisements. However, work on them is yet to begin.

BMC sources said the rest sheds would have facilities such as water coolers, public call offices, fans and chairs. Private concerns will be allotted space for displaying advertisements.

Lack of proper bus bays also results in traffic chaos. “With no proper bus bays to pick up and drop passengers, buses park anywhere they want to, causing traffic chaos,” said Umanath Samal, a senior citizen who lives in Saheed Nagar.

Deputy commissioner of BMC Krushna Prasad Pati said the rest sheds were being designed.

“The corporation has entrusted the task of designing them to the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation. Once it’s done, we will take steps to build the rest sheds,” said Pati.