By Dhanendra Chaurasia THE arrival of 32 modern electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme has raised hopes for a cleaner and more comfortable public transport system in the Sanskardhani. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav is set to launch the first phase of the service soon. But the excitement is accompanied by a pressing civic concern - can a modern bus service truly benefit citizens when many of its bus stops remain neglected, encroached upon and unfit for commuters? Although the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation has worked hard to improve civic amenities in recent years, it has failed to maintain several metro bus shelters built at major locations. Many waiting areas have deteriorated due to poor maintenance, while encroachments by fruit vendors, hawkers and makeshift shops have occupied the shelters.

 

Some bus stops have even become temporary shelters for homeless people. The result is that commuters are often forced to wait on the roadside instead of using the bus shelters. Women, senior citizens and school students face the greatest inconvenience, particularly during rain and peak traffic hours. The civic body had spent lakhs of rupees constructing these metro bus stops when the city introduced its bus service with much fanfare. While a few shelters still reflect modern urban infrastructure, most now stand as examples of neglect and poor maintenance. Residents believe that adding state-of-the-art electric buses alone will not transform public transport. Clean, safe and encroachment-free bus shelters are equally essential for a reliable commuting experience. With the launch of the e-bus fleet, citizens now expect the civic body to restore and maintain bus stops with the same seriousness shown in introducing modern buses. Only then will the ambitious scheme deliver its promised benefits to the people of Jabalpur.