Commuters in Napoklu struggle for want of shelter

Although Napoklu is growing fast, it lacks a bus shelter for commuters.

The bus drivers, therefore, are forced to park the vehicles on the narrow road in front of shops.
The density of vehicles, including autorickshaws and other vehicles, has increased in Napoklu. The difficulty increases on Monday, as it is the shandy market day.

There are 200 autorickshaws, 100 jeeps in addition to the private and KSRTC buses in Napoklu. Parking of these vehicles is a challenging task.

As the temperature soars with each passing day of summer, passengers in Napoklu understandably do not want to stand in the sun waiting for a bus. They are, however, forced to brave the scorching sun. Without proper bus shelter, the drivers park the buses in front of the Gram Panchayat building.

The Gram Panchayat had earmarked a site for construction of a spacious bus shelter near the market. Even the foundation stone for the same was laid. The work, however, is yet to commence.

The residents themselves said that the government had sanctioned Rs 15 lakh for the construction of a bus shelter three years ago. As the work failed to take off, the fund returned back to the government.

Vehicle owners’ association president Moovera Vinu Poonacha said that the police and the Gram Panchayat should make suitable arrangement for the parking of autorickshaws.