Passengers demand toilet and bus shelter at Seelanaickenpatti bypass junction in Salem

The public have demanded toilet facility and bus shelters at the Seelanaickenpatti bypass junction in Salem for passengers waiting for buses to various districts.

Several passengers wait at the Seelanaickenpatti bypass junction on the Salem-Namakkal National Highway in ward 60 of Salem Corporation to board buses to Namakkal, Tiruchi, Karur, Dindigul, and Madurai. Likewise, people coming from these districts and heading to Dadagapatti, Sanniyasigundu, Ayothiyapattinam, Gugai, and Old Bus Stand have to board town buses at the junction. However, there are no basic amenities such as toilets, drinking water facility and bus shelters at this location for passengers.

Salem Corporation Councillor (Ward 60) S.A. Varadharaj of AIADMK said that before 2019, a bus shelter was provided at the location under the MP fund. But, it remains damaged. When the issue was raised with the Corporation, the officials claimed that there were no funds for basic amenities and also alleged that the Highways Department had denied permission. In the upcoming Corporation council meeting, the AIADMK will highlight the issue, he said.

P. Shanmugam, a resident of Dadagapatti, said, “I board bus at the junction daily to reach my workplace in Namakkal. As there are no bus shelters, people have to wait to the open, rain or shine.” During rainy days, water stagnates near the junction. Aged people have slipped and fallen on the road while running to board bus. The Corporation should provide bus shelters soon with proper lighting, and se up toilet facility, Mr. Shanmugam added.

Salem Corporation officials said the civic body had applied to the National Highway Authority of India for a no-objection certificate (NOC) to build toilets and bus shelters at the junction. They stated that the work would commence once the NOC is obtained, they said.