Drive soon to check basic facilities at bus terminals

NEW DELHI: The transport department of the Delhi government will start inspections drive in coming week to check whether all the basic facilities at the bus terminals are available or not. Minister Kailash Gahlot started the process from Sunday by visiting the Uttam Nagar bus depot.

"I inspected the Uttam Nagar bus terminal along with DTC officials and area SDM. I directed DTC CMD to ensure basic facilities are available at the spot," said Gahlot.

The officials asserted that in the past few months, the department has received a number of complaints from the commuters that they do not get the basic amenities at the bus terminal. "The complaints are mostly about the availability of toilets, sanitation works, infrastructure-related issues and availability of pure drinking water," said the officials. Gahlot has directed the officials and formed teams who will visit these places to find out the problem. Based on the report, the department will take the actions.

"Sanitation problem is a big issue at the bus terminals and we are planning to introduce government sanitation workers to these places," said an official. He elaborated that traditionally the sanitation work is done by the private agencies appointed by the Delhi Transport Corporation. "We have explained our plans to the DTC and they have agreed to cooperate," said the officials.

According to the officials, the minister has also directed a rapid infrastructural development of these terminals before the next monsoon. "Depending on the winter climate, we have planned to finish the whole infrastructural redevelopment of the terminals by this season so that in the next monsoon the commuters get the privilege," asserted the official. He explained that due to the poor condition of these places, maintenance of the buses is also getting affected. By the end of this month, Gahlot will scrutinise the final report submitted by the officials.