Chennai Corporation revives plan to renovate 765 bus shelters
Bus shelters in Chennai are due for an upgrade as the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has revived plans to renovate 765 bus shelters across the city after an earlier tender process failed.
In March 2024, the GCC floated tenders for the renovation and maintenance of 765 bus shelters at a cost of ₹29 crore. But this did not take off, according to sources in the GCC.
The Hindu had reported on the poor condition of several bus shelters. Now, of the city's 1,558 bus shelters, 704 shelters and 61 older ones, whose concession terms have ended, are slated to be refurbished, according to GCC's Bus Route Roads Department.
The civic body has called for a consultant to assess the feasibility of the revamp, validate data from the previous tender, and review existing shelter designs. Within five months, the consultant must prepare tender documents, define bidder qualifications, and finalise the selection process.
Once the reviewing is done, the GCC, along with the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board, will issue another tender to finalise a private party to renovate and maintain the bus shelters.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) councillor R. Jayaraman (Ward 4) said, 'After concerns were raised regarding the bus stop in Jothi Nagar at the Ward meeting on May 15, the GCC simply placed a metal sheet over the existing shelter's skeleton; it was not installed properly. Also, shelters in areas such as Mullai Nagar lack proper flooring and seating arrangements. The GCC does address complaints but not in an efficient manner. This must change,' he added.
An official in the GCC refuted this, and said grievances were addressed regularly.
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