Mysuru: In a surprise visit to the KSRTC Sub-Urban Bus Stand, Karnataka State Women’s Commission Chairperson Dr. Nagalakshmi Chowdhary yesterday uncovered multiple lapses in maintenance and facilities, highlighting serious shortcomings by the  officials responsible.

During her inspection, Dr. Chowdhary found that the water tank supplying drinking water was infested with insects due to a lack of cleaning, posing significant health risks. The tank had not been cleaned and was contaminated with fungus, posing a health risk to users.

Additionally, the mother care centre lacked essential amenities such as doors, cradles and seating, making it unsafe and uncomfortable for mothers and children.

The inspection revealed further issues, including inaccessible toilets for differently-abled individuals due to broken and unusable facilities. The state of the paid toilets was also poor, raising concerns about sanitation.

One distressing observation was the absence of designated areas for women to change sanitary pads, an oversight that compromises dignity and basic hygiene.

Dr. Chowdhary noted that the bus stand was inadequately equipped with CCTV cameras, which compromises the safety of the many travellers passing through.

Passengers also expressed the need for more buses on the Chamarajanagar route, emphasising the pressing requirement for improved service frequency.

Moreover, she observed that free drinking water was not available to travellers, leaving many without access to this basic necessity, especially during warmer weather. The contaminated overhead water tank further exacerbates these issues, highlighting poor maintenance practices.

Dr. Chowdhary’s findings underscore the critical need for urgent infrastructure improvements and better management at the Mysuru Suburb Bus Stand to ensure safety, hygiene and inclusivity, particularly for women and marginalised groups.