ISBTs in Tricity lack basic amenities, especially for the disabled and women

Indian Express

15-06-2025

Written By Aishani Chauhan & Divyanshi Thakur
Tricity's Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBTs), used by thousands of passengers every day, lack basic amenities, especially for the differently-abled and women commuters.
At ISBTs in Sector 17 and 43, toilets for differently-abled persons were either locked or non-functional, forcing users to rely on general-use facilities. A recent survey conducted at ISBTs found a toilet for differently-abled persons at the Panchkula Sector 5 bus stand to be functional.
The condition of the multi-crore Baba Banda Singh Bahadur ISBT in Phase 6, Mohali, shows yet another example of underutilised public infrastructure. Although signages indicate facilities for differently-abled individuals, there were no functional wheelchairs or accessible toilets available. Basic amenities like clean washrooms for men and women and cold drinking water were present, but essential infrastructure such as air-conditioned waiting rooms was non-functional. Amidst the ongoing heatwave, commuters were seen sitting outside the building, relying on a single pedestal fan for relief.
Security supervisor Hardeep Singh at the ISBT, Mohali, said, 'Due to an ongoing legal case, it will take another 2 to 3 years for the bus stand to become fully operational. There's no electricity in the building, and it's running on a generator. Substantial improvements, including functional waiting rooms and additional facilities, will only be possible once the bus stand is officially up and running.'
Additionally, no ramps are available at any of the ISBTs for wheelchair users to independently access buses. They have to be assisted physically for boarding a bus. 'There's no ramp, so we help them,' said a conductor at the ISBT, Sector 17, exposing the lack of necessary provisions even at the best-performing terminal.
At the AC waiting room of ISBT, Sector 43, Chandigarh, an AC is completely broken, while another has a functional display panel but doesn't cool, making the space suffocating for passengers. 'The waiting room is worse than sitting outside,' said a passenger waiting for a bus to Ambala.
The situation at the Panchkula bus stand in Sector 5, managed by the Haryana Roadways under the Haryana State Transport Department, was worse. Public toilets are in a deplorable condition, with a stench coming up to the waiting area. A tea stall vendor at the bus stand said, 'The ladies' toilet is cleaned only once or twice a week; mostly on Saturdays or Sundays.'
Unlike Sectors 17 and 43, where cleaning staff were seen working at regular intervals, Panchkula lacked even the basic upkeep. Of the three wheelchairs available here, two are defunct. Also, the bus stand lacks ramps to assist those with mobility issues. Passengers also complained of excessive heat, as the station does not have an air-conditioned waiting area. Wall-mounted fans give little relief in the sweltering weather.
When contacted, Haryana Roadways General Manager Sukhdev Singh acknowledged the infrastructure shortcomings. 'We are currently developing an electric bus depot. Further amenities like air-conditioned waiting rooms will be added soon,' he said.
Asked about the lack of sanitation and poor maintenance of toilets, he suggested it could be due to staff being on leave. 'We clean regularly, but I will look into the matter. I will speak to the officer or deputy in charge,' he said when informed about local vendors and commuters' complaints.
(The authors are interns at The Indian Express)