Bus travellers wait at the place, opposite the CBI office on Ballari Road, where a bus shelter was removed to make way for an Indira Canteen. Construction material has been dumped at two other bus shelters. dh photo
After encroaching parks and playgrounds, BBMP has now encroached on a bus shelter at Ganganagar bus stop opposite CBI office on Ballari Road to build an Indira Canteen.
Among the three bus shelters there, the middle one has been removed to make way for the construction of the canteen. Mahadevappa, a regular commuter, said this bus stop was a busy one as a number of buses plying to and from the city halt here.
“Inter-city and intra-city buses stop here. Buses going to Doddaballapur and Ballari also halt here. People prefer to sit here as this is the only place where there is some shade, with there being no trees nearby,” explained Mahadevappa.
Ningaiah, a commuter who was suffering from an ailment, had to sit on a metal bar kept there for use in the construction work. His wife Manjula said he could not stand in the hot sun for long.
Even though the other two shelters are available for public use, construction material has been dumped all over the place.
However, Vighnesh Kumar, a student who passes by this place regularly, said, “This canteen is going to be our hangout once it is inaugurated. I am also waiting for the one which will come up near my college.”
Mallesh K, another commuter, echoed the feeling. “The place does not matter as long as it serves food at cheap rates. It is beneficial for someone like me,” said Mallesh.
Prameela M, the Ganganagar corporator, said BBMP went ahead with the project, even though she objected to the structure being built at a bus shelter. “I had sent an objection letter to BBMP, but it dismissed my objection. We have planned to take the matter to court,” she said.
Manoj Rajan, special commissioner, Indira Canteens, was not available for comment.