Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) contractor looking after advertisements on city bus stops has dismantled a bus stop on the road connecting Pratap Nagar Square to Mate Chowk. This was done to favour a builder, according to shopkeepers in the area. NMC officials had not given permission to remove the bus stop.
Three city bus stops were located on this road, one near Pratap Nagar Square and two near Durga Mata Mandir. The two bus stops near Durga Mata Mandir were situated opposite each other.
Two shopkeepers from the area told TOI, “NMC removed the bus stop around 15 days ago. It was in good condition, just like the other opposite it. The bus stop removed was on the footpath in front of plot no. 98. There was a dilapidated building on the plot, which was demolished recently.”
“A builder had purchased the plot along with another adjacent one. The bus stop was seen as obstructing sight of the proposed building. It is suspected that the bus stop was removed so that the builder can increase value of his proposed building,” said a shopkeeper.
This bus stop was mostly used by people from Gopal Nagar, Pratap Nagar Square and Atrey Layout. After removing the bus stop, the debris has been left as it is. Now, commuters sit on the footpath to wait for city buses.
Officials from NMC traffic department said they were unaware about removal of the bus stop, and assured to revert after taking details from the agency — Signpost India Pvt Limited.
Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B asked TOI to speak to officials of NMC Laxmi Nagar Zone. The zone officials too were unaware about it despite passage of over 15 days.
As per contract, the agency had erected 158 bus stops across the city, though NMC whose owns them. The agency was supposed to earn from advertisements on bus stops for 10 years, which contract reportedly ends in March next year.
An official from Signpost refuted the allegations that bus stop was removed to favour a builder. “NMC had also given us contract of renovating existing bus stops. The standee adjacent to the bus stop was rusted. Also, footpath was dug for laying power cables. Therefore, we removed entire set up. We will erect a new bus stop at the same spot within 45 days,” he said.
The rules say, the agency has to make a new bus stop and replace old one immediately if required. This ensures no inconvenience to commuters, and also continuation of advertisement revenue for the agency.
All three bus stops on the road were erected together around nine years ago, and the remaining two are untouched, and in satisfactory condition, apart from cleanliness.
When the agency got the contract, corporators had alleged it erected bus stops in locations suitable for advertisement and not for city bus service.
In an earlier case, TOI had reported a builder demanded removal of main drinking water pipeline in front of his plot. TOI had also reported big trees are being chopped to ensure visibility to advertisement hoardings.
IN A NUTSHELL
* NMC appointed agency to erect 158 city bus stops 9 years ago, earn from advertisements on them
* Two bus stops were located on opposite sides of road at Durga Mata Mandir
* Builder had purchased two plots behind one bus stop
* Agency removed bus stop in front of plots 15 days ago
* Local shopkeepers say this was to ensure visibility to new building on plots
* NMC officials from traffic department and Laxmi Nagar zone unaware of this
* Agency claims bus stop being replaced with new one
* Norms say new one should be ready and put in place immediately