Poorly maintained bus shelters tarnish the city’s image as a tourist destination

What can you do if the wait for a KSRTC bus prolongs and there’s no place to sit? Unfortunately, not much, as most bus shelters in Mysuru city lag behind in providing basic amenities.

It’s not just about seating; hygiene, tidy surroundings and adequate lighting after dusk are also lacking. This is particularly disappointing for a city that is a prominent tourist destination, attracting both domestic and international visitors throughout the year.

These bus shelters are mere structures, offering little to make commuters comfortable. Despite being a commonly discussed issue, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) only offers temporary fixes rather than permanent solutions.

With the rainy season here, many bus shelters made of concrete and metal appear unsafe, with the potential to collapse at any time. Leaking roofs are a common sight, as seen with the shelter at Subhas Chandra Bose Circle on Sayyaji Rao Road, which is unfit for use. There’s no clarity on whether buses stop here, although autorickshaws are promptly parked.

The bus shelter in front of K.R. Hospital on Irwin Road is another problematic structure, causing inconvenience to patients and students of Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI), located right opposite the hospital.

Heritage-style shelters near Varaha Gate at Mysore Palace, H.C. Dasappa Circle on KRS Road and Gokulam Arch are also plagued with issues that remain unaddressed by the authorities.

Digital signboards, initially adding a modern touch and providing route information, are now in disrepair. Damaged boards and non-functional tube-lights paint a pathetic picture. Bus stop in front of iconic Mysore Palace, littered with vegetable waste, has become a habitat for rats and rodents, evident from the burrows.

Moreover, posters deface the visual appeal of bus shelters, including newer structures. The modern shelter near Hasu-Karu Park on KRS Road in Gokulam, built under the MLA Local Area Development Fund 2021-22, is already marred by posters.