‘Auto’cracy blocks MTC services from entering bus bays

Unauthorised and haphazard parking of vehicles, particularly share and ordinary autos, at many bus stops block the way to dedicated bays for MTC buses. Commuters complain that parked vehicles hide the approaching buses and they have to wade through the congestion to board the right bus. On many occasions, MTC drivers overshoot the buses from the prescribed bus stops. 

“The share and ordinary auto drivers stop their vehicles right before the bus stops and in such a condition, we find it difficult to identify our route buses. Sometimes, we end up missing the bus,” says G Kanagaraj, a regular bus commuter of Valasaravakkam. He also added that the auto drivers take a long time to vacate the premises until their vehicles are overloaded and this should be monitored by concerned authorities, so that bus commuters can have a hassle-free travel.

MTC drivers echo the commuters’ voice. “Unauthorised parking before bus stops has become rampant in the city and sometimes, we are pushed to stop the buses in the middle of the road or overshoot the stops,” said an MTC bus driver. 

Meanwhile, road activists demand that the officials arrange the particular spots for share and ordinary autos. “We cannot blame the auto drivers for the current scenario. It is officials’ duty to allocate a place from where they autos and share autos can transport passengers and it will be better that those authorised places will be situated near crowded places,” said T Mathivanan, a city-based activist. 

An auto driver from one of the unions told DT Next that there is not enough number of parking areas for them. “The whole city is congested and there are only 250 parking areas for auto rickshaws. Officials should locate proper parking areas for us and we need at least 450 to 500 parking areas.”