Despite being constructed for the welfare of the locals, the bus shelter near Sirumugai Road in Mettupalayam wears an abandoned look as the public and bus drivers prefer a spot 50 feet away from it to board the buses.

The shelter was erected in 2006-2007 under the Parliamentary Constituency Development Scheme at a cost of Rs.60,000, as part of a development project of the Mettupalayam Municipality. But, the bus shelter is only used by the people for resting. Buses stop almost 50 feet away from the shelter, making it inconvenient for the people. Further, the point where the buses stop is a very narrow stretch and causes frequent traffic congestion in the area.

A. Anbazhagan, a septuagenarian who walks regularly to the bus stop with his grandchildren, said that people of the area are forced to walk long distances to reach the spot where the buses actually stop. He added that the Government’s fund is being wasted by not using the bus shelter.

K. Jaffer 35, flower merchant, said that flower vendors and wholesalers send bundles of flowers through buses. “The bus stop is a little bit far away. Since these bundles have to be unloaded, we stop the bus near our market,” he said.

D. Suvek, 27, a bus conductor said, “There is no real reason or advantages of stopping the buses there. It’s more out of a habit. We have been stopping the buses there for a long time.”