PUNE: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) Shivajinagar bus terminus has been shifted to Wakdewadi at the Government Dairy plot on old Mumbai-Pune Highway.
On the first day, there was complete chaos due to lack of information about buses, non-availability of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd. (PMPML) buses for different parts of the city, besides traffic jams on the highway in the absence of a traffic signal.
The bus stand was shifted to facilitate construction of the underground Pune metro work in the area.
For last several decades, Shivajinagar State Transport (ST) stand served travellers from all corners of the State. The new facility at Wakdewadi, which is at a distance of 1.5 km from the Shivajinagar depot, is now ready for commuters.
According to MSRTC officials with 1,400 buses, the bus station and depot started functioning at Wakdewadi from Tuesday.
Depot Manager Dnyaneshwar Ranavare said, “At Shivajinagar ST stand, an underground metro station is being constructed. Therefore, the bus stand has been relocated to Wakdewadi. All services which we were providing to our commuters will be provided from Wakdewadi with minor changes in schedules of buses.”
Though the new ST stand in Wakdewadi is bigger compared to the one in Shivajinagar, the premises lacks many facilities for the passengers. Also, in the absence of traffic signal and warden on the highway, the buses have to halt in queues leading to traffic jams and chaos.
Dattatray Devarkar (44), a teacher, told Sakal Times, “We need more PMPML bus services to connect Wakdewadi bus stand to various parts of the city, as autorickshaw drivers are demanding hefty fares. The Shivajinagar stand had local train as well as PMPML buses to take the load of passengers.”
Another passenger Suvarna Jadhav, a homemaker, added, “As this bus stand has more space, the government should construct more toilets and restrooms for the passengers.”
