Passengers and bus drivers say there is a need for a waiting area at the crowded Avinash Road in Coimbatore

The numerous bus passengers along Avinash Road in Coimbatore are in dire need of a shelter at night. | Photo credit: PERIASAMY M

Every night between 7 pm and 11 pm, hundreds of passengers heading to Chennai and Bengaluru start pouring in along the Avinashi stretch that runs parallel to the slip road leading to the ELCOT IT park.

The stretch of more than 100 metres was congested as a large number of passengers reached the location in their own or rented vehicles to catch the buses.

As the night progresses, it is common to see long queues of multiple buses waiting for passengers to board, with each bus having to wait at least 5 to 10 minutes.

The question in the minds of both passengers was how long they would have to endure this ordeal of boarding the train without proper lighting or shelter along the route.

Vetrivel, a frequent passenger, asked the bus operator to find a solution. The bus operator, in turn, wanted the municipal corporation to meet their demands and build shelters on both sides with enough space for buses to stop and reduce the disturbance on Avinashi Expressway.

Currently, the omnidirectional buses start from Tamil Nadu Hotel and stop at Lakshmi Mills and Peelamedu to let passengers board before heading to the stretch parallel to Tidel Park road.

For buses, it is much easier to pick up passengers at two stops along the way.

It is learnt that the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation had mooted the idea of ​​arranging multi-purpose buses to ferry passengers on the slip road leading to ELCOT Tidel Park.

“While it is ideal to construct a shelter on the Avinashi Road side, the civic authorities have suggested that passengers board the bus on the slip road, which is acceptable to us. We have requested the civic body to construct a shelter on the slip road,” said M. Senthil Kumar, secretary of the Coimbatore Bus Owners and Travellers Association.

Apparently, the bus company and passengers are looking forward to the proposed shelter for passengers at the site being completed before the monsoon season arrives.

Mr. Senthilkumar stressed that the timely decision by the Municipal Corporation would provide great relief to operators and passengers.