FPJ Impact: Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik Visits 'Rickety' ST Bus Depot In Bhayandar

Mira Bhayandar: A day after The Free Press Journal highlighted the pathetic condition of the state transport (ST) bus depot in Bhayandar (Spotlight on Bhayandar Depot in it's edition dated 27, December), newly appointed transport minister- Pratap Sarnaik took cognizance of the report and inspected the facility on Saturday afternoon.

Accompanied by municipal commissioner-Sanjay Katkar and senior officials from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), Sarnaik inspected the single storey dilapidated structure located near the railway station in Bhayandar (west) which houses the control room, ticket booking office and a rest-room for drivers and conductors.

With peeled-off plasters on the ceiling and toilets sans doors, the makeshift bus depot, in existence for more than two decades, is in an extremely dilapidated condition, putting at risk lives of staffers and approaching commuters.

Moreover, the depot is deprived of basic facilities including-pure drinking water, lack of proper enquiry counters, urinals and sheds, thus forcing commuters to brave the weather by standing in self formed queues amidst bustling vehicular traffic along the main road.

“The state-of-the-art ST bus terminal which has been planned on a nearby 2-acre plot will be jointly developed by the MBMC and the MSRTC on a space sharing basis. The existing structure which is beyond repairs will be demolished and container offices having all needed facilities will be installed as a stop-gap-arrangement till the bus terminal is completed on war-footing. We are committed towards enhancing amenities for commuters while ensuring that staffers are also taken care of in a proper manner.” said Sarnaik.

Notably, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) which owns the property had officially tagged the existing bus depot structure as dangerous and unfit for use in 2020.