Commuters at Salem's Old Bus Stand are facing extreme hardship as newly installed lifts and escalators have been non-operational for 10 days, forcing elderly passengers to climb stairs.

Key Takeaways

  • Lifts and an escalator at Salem Old Bus Stand have been out of order for 10 days.
  • The facilities were installed at a cost of ₹2.50 crore under the Smart Cities project.
  • Elderly and differently-abled passengers are struggling to climb 50 steps to reach the first floor.
  • The Corporation stopped outsourcing maintenance due to funding issues.

Commuters at the Salem Old Bus Stand are raising an urgent plea to the Salem Corporation to restore the non-functional lifts and escalator. For the past 10 days, these essential facilities have been completely out of service, causing significant distress to passengers, particularly the elderly and differently-abled.

A Multi-Crore Project in Disarray

The Salem Old Bus Stand was reconstructed as a two-tier facility under the Smart Cities project at an estimated cost of ₹96.53 crore. Inaugurated in June 2023, the facility—officially named Muthamizh Aringnar Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Nootrandu Managara Perunthu Nilaiyam—was designed to modernize public transport. To facilitate access to the first floor, where buses to areas like Omalur, Thinnapatti, and Elampillai operate, four lifts and one escalator were installed at a cost of ₹2.50 crore.

Read Also:US Citizenship Revoked for Indian-Origin Man Following Rape Conviction

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the failure to maintain high-tech infrastructure leads to a complete breakdown of urban mobility. When 'Smart City' amenities fail due to administrative and budgetary lapses, it undermines public trust in large-scale government investments.

Infrastructure investment without a dedicated maintenance budget is a recipe for civic failure.

Local resident P. Palanisamy, 76, highlighted the recurring nature of the problem, noting that the lifts have faced intermittent issues since their inauguration. He stated that staff often cite repair issues or power shortages, but the current total shutdown has left many unable to access the upper floor without climbing 50 steep steps.

The Administrative Hurdle

According to officials from the Ammapet zone of the Salem Corporation, the operation of these facilities was previously outsourced. However, due to fund constraints, the Corporation decided to discontinue outsourcing and instead intends to use domestic staff. Officials added that restoration is pending approval from higher authorities regarding manpower allocation.

Did You Know?: The new bus stand was built to replace the demolished old structure as part of a massive urban renewal initiative.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why are the lifts not working?
The Corporation stopped outsourcing the maintenance services due to a lack of funds.

2. Which buses are affected by this?
Buses operating from the first floor, serving various outskirts of Salem, are most affected as passengers struggle to reach them.