Mysuru: It was a proud moment for all Mysureans when the
Intelligent Transport System (ITS) was introduced in the city – Mysuru was the first in the country to adopt the smart system that was aimed at providing commuters information about bus schedules, their location, et al. In a city flocked by tourists, including foreigners, ITS was a boon with visitors not having to worry about getting lost in Mysuru.
Although the project was only partially implemented across Mysuru, it is conspicuously absent at the
bus stop close to the most visited tourist attraction in the city –
Mysuru Palace. Besides the lack of ITS, there are more pressing problems that need to be addressed at this bus stop. The bus stop has no adequate
shelter, besides which there are no seats. Consequently, passengers are bearing the brunt of the lack of basic amenities at this bus stop.
Commuters have little knowledge about routes of the buses, and are compelled to either ask the conductor or the other passengers as to whether or not they travel to the locality they are bound for. The problems of the passengers waiting for a bus at Mysuru Palace only multiply when it starts to rain, forcing them to scurry for cover.
Besides its proximity to the palace, the bus stop is situated at a central location, since buses arriving there connect the Central Business District (CBD) to various other parts of the city. Residents of localities in the eastern part of the city such as Siddartha Layout, Alanahalli, Giriyabhovi Palya are among those who will benefit the most if the bus stop near the palace is upgraded. A few years ago, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) invited private entities to build bus shelters. Unfortunately, shelters constructed by private players are highly unscientific, and it appears as though the primary purpose of these structures is to make money through advertisements.
However, officials of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) affirmed that there were few bus stops in the city without shelters. On the other hand, Shanthala, a passenger, said that waiting for a bus on the road was fraught with danger, particularly for women. “We don’t know where the bus will stop. Some of them stop at the circle, and few others at a distance from the circle. If there was a particular bus stop, all buses would stop there,” she said.
MCC superintendent engineer GS Suresh said that there was no proposal to build more bus stops, but he assured TOI that he would address the problems faced by commuters near Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Circle.
