Share autos in bus bays increase risk of accidents, say commuters

The Secretary of Federation of Adyar Residents’ Associations P Namachivayam said, “The city has a few bus bays to reduce traffic on roads. But the purpose is lost as share autos occupy the space inside the facility. Due to this the buses halt outside the bays, causing inconvenience to commuters and motorists.” He further added that at various instances, people have missed buses because the buses do not enter the bays. “The share auto drivers are adamant and sometimes refuse to yield to the authorities, who try to remove themfrom the spots.”

The general secretary of Chennai Maanagara Motor Vehicles Workers Association B Anbazhagan said, “Share autos have no space allotted in the city. They usually pick up and drop commuters from the bus stops. We are already lacking space to park our vehicles. We are struggling to make money amid lot of restrictions. Recently, we were also asked to stop operating share autos from Guindy Industrial Estate bus stop.”

An official attached to the State Transport Department said, “We are working with the police to keep a check on share autos. Warnings have been issued several times and we have also requested them to stay off the bus bays.”

Stating that no official complaint was received regarding the issue, the Traffic Deputy Commissioner (North) Pakalvan Pakal, said, “We keep evicting share autos from the bays. As a permanent solution, we are strictly enforcing rules and penalising them in order to discourage them from entering the bus bay.”