Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 26 April 2024
Months have passed since the completion of a modern bus terminus in Campbell Bay, aimed at providing comfort to commuters awaiting their buses. However, the facility remains unutilized, leaving the public to endure the scorching sun as they wait for their buses.
Constructed at a cost exceeding ₹2 crores, the state-of-the-art terminus stands as a symbol of unmet promises and bureaucratic delays. Sources reveal that the authorities are awaiting the presence of a senior administrative officer to grace the inauguration ceremony before making the terminus operational.
As temperatures soar in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands this April, the public is left with no respite from the heat, forced to wait outside while the shiny new building sits empty.
Critics point out the irony of prioritising inauguration ceremonies over public welfare, emphasising that the primary purpose of such infrastructure is to enhance the comfort and convenience of citizens. The delay in opening the terminus reflects a disconnect between the authorities’ focus on ceremonial events and the pressing needs of the community.
In a statement by a common man, concerns were raised about the authorities’ apparent neglect of their duty to serve the people. It was emphasized that public assets are owned by the citizens and should be utilized for their benefit, rather than serving as mere symbols of administrative prowess.
As the wait continues for the bus terminus to become operational, the discomfort faced by commuters serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of bureaucratic inefficiency and misplaced priorities.