Bus stand non-functional for 15 yrs in Bhikhiwind

A double-storey bus stand at Bhikhiwind, constructed 15 years ago, is still non-functional for reasons best known to the authorities concerned.

Rooms of the bus stand are freely used by addicts to consume drugs throughout day and night without any fear of the law. As the bus stand is not functional, drivers’ park buses on roadsides at different places in the town. This results in frequent traffic jams on all roads of the border town throughout the day.

The public and other organisations have been demanding that the authorities concerned must instruct drivers to park busses on the bus stand premises.

Besides, encroachments in the town have aggravated frequent traffic snarls in the town. Harjinder Singh Gill, state president, United Trade Union, Punjab, said though the bus stand was constructed 15 years ago, there was no provision of water supply and public toilets on its premises. Passengers wait for boarding buses for their destination on roadsides outside the bus stand, he said. The Bhikhiwind Nagar Panchayat did not construct any public toilet in the town, he said, while adding that this was inconveniencing the public, especially the women folk.

When contacted, Gurdev Singh Dhanm, SDM, Bhikhiwind, said the problem of frequent traffic jams could not be solved till bypass was constructed near the town. He said without any feedback from the General Manager, Punjab Roadways, he could not comment on why Bhikhiwind bus stand was still not functional.