When the Chennai Corporation removed the bus shelter opposite Albert Theatre on Whannels Road in Egmore, to make way for the digging works for the Integrated Stormwater Drain Project, the commuters understood that it was for the common good. For weeks, they waited under the sun without complaining.

The work was completed almost a month ago, but the officials seem to have taken their tolerance for granted. For, all the scrap and debris from the dismantled bus shelter has been dumped on the newly laid footpath at Amman Koil Street, a stretch that is already narrow. As a result, commuters and pedestrians have lost their only safe space left on the stretch.

Surrounded by public institutions such as Thalamuthu Natarajan Maligai, CMDA headquarters, a government school and the Government Fine Arts College, the bus stop is a crucial link for passengers to reach Anna Salai via Chintradipet and Pudupet. The stretch witnesses continuous flow of traffic as motorists and motorcyclists prefer to travel via Amman Koil Street to reach Purasawakkam, Choolai, Park Town and Broadway.

“The Corporation authorities should have ensured that the bus shelter was reinstalled as soon as the stormwater drain widening project was over. Now, we have to brave the hot sun while we wait for buses on Whannels Road. There aren’t enough trees on this stretch for us to take shelter,” said K. Priya, a commuter from Egmore.

School students from Dr. Ambedkar Government School, which is located along the ramp towards Pudupet direction, walk all the way from the school to board buses at the bus stop. During rush hour, especially in the evening, the bus stop is crowded with office-goers as many government offices are located in the vicinity.

“Steps will be taken to construct a modern bus shelter at the bus stop in Egmore soon. The scrap dumped on the footpath will also be removed immediately,” said a Corporation official.