In a city where only a handful board buses from designated stops, three unusual bus stops have come up at opposite ends of the city. One of the bus stops — at Golf Green — is powered by solar energy, while the other two, both at Lake Town, are air-conditioned. Unlike most bus stops in Calcutta, these three are well lit, which provides a sense of security to commuters, especially women, children and the elderly. The seats are intact till now, unlike most other bus stops where they are broken. Metro takes a look at the new bus stops.

A solar-powered bus stop on Uday Sarkar Sarani in Golf Green, (below) a mobile phone charging point in the shelter

SOLAR-POWERED BUS STOP

Where: Golf Green, opposite the gate of Doordarshan Kendra Calcutta.

What: A bus stop in which the lights run on electricity generated by solar panels installed above. The use of solar energy contributes to attempts at reducing carbon emission. The six solar panels installed over the shelter provide 400 watt of electricity for 12 hours daily. The installed capacity is much higher though

Functioning since: November 5

Cost of construction: Rs 8 lakh

Recurring expenditure: None till the solar panels develop a glitch

Facilities: Lights and mobile phone charging points

Commuter voice: “The mobile phone charging points will be of use. There are not many people who take a bus from here. The road mostly stays empty,” said a youth, who came to have a look at the bus stop

Air-conditioned bus stops at Sreebhumi on VIP Road (top) and near Lake Town crossing. Pictures by Anup Bhattacharya

AIR-CONDITIONED BUS STOP

Where: VIP Road (Sreebhumi) and near the Lake Town crossing

What: A covered bus stand with a glass façade. There are seats as well

Functioning since: July (Sreebhumi) and September (Lake Town crossing)

Cost of construction: Rs 4 lakh each

Recurring expenditure: Rs 10,000 a month for electricity consumption in each bus stop

Facilities: Two one-tonne ACs in each bus stop. There are also sliding glass doors and lights

Commuter voice: “They are good places to wait for a bus during summer,” said a Lake Town resident

Metro saw during a recent visit a group of local youths chatting in the cool comfort inside one of the bus stops.

Text by Subhajoy Roy