Tin shed for sugarcane juice stall at Dharashiv bus station draws safety, encroachment questions

A tin shed has been put up for a sugarcane juice stall in the premises of the newly built bus station in Dharashiv, raising questions of encroachment and passenger safety. The shed has been built right against the women's toilet, and it is alleged that it obstructs the toilet's ventilation. A crowded platform is close by, so concern has also been voiced over passenger safety.

Questions are also being asked about why the shed was built in a crowded spot when there is vacant space in the premises. Social activists have demanded that the ST administration say whether the construction has official approval, whether the rules for allotting space were followed, and who has the authority to alter the bus station's original plan.

Some earlier changes to the bus station building are also alleged. It is said that the entrance of the canteen near the women's toilet was changed so that it now abuts the bus platform. This is feared to bring people going to and from the canteen and passengers boarding and alighting from buses into the same spot. It needs to be made clear whether this change received technical and administrative approval, and whether it was examined from the point of view of passenger safety.

The shed, on the southern side of the bus station and adjoining the women's toilet, is meant for the sugarcane juice stall. It is alleged that it has affected the toilet's ventilation. Open space exists near the compound wall of the bus station, yet the question being raised is why the construction came up in a crowded place.

Rajabhau Raut, district president of the RPI (Kharat), along with Sunil Waghmare and Vikas Bansode, has demanded an inquiry into whether the approved plan, rules and safety norms were followed during the construction, the allotment of space and changes to passenger facilities. They said that if the shed was permitted, the order, the licence for the space and details of the approved area should be made public. If the construction turns out to be unauthorised, it should be removed and action taken against those responsible as per rules.

The role of Divisional Controller Ajay Patil in the matter is also being questioned. It should be made clear what level of approval is needed to give out premises space for use, to permit construction or to alter the original plan. Dnyaneshwar Vasekar, personal assistant to Transport Minister and Guardian Minister Pratap Sarnaik, said the divisional controller had told him that the decision to build the shed was taken by a committee.

According to Divisional Controller Ajay Patil, the operator of the sugarcane juice stall had requested a change of location. On that basis, the committee decided to build the tin shed. Patil said care would be taken that no untoward incident occurs.

However, if the committee took the decision, the questions of what the committee is called, on what date the decision was made, whether an official licence for the space has been issued, whether the construction has technical approval and what checks were made for passenger safety remain unanswered so far. Activists are therefore demanding that the officials involved in the decision and the committee's role be examined on the basis of documents.

The activists have recalled that some time ago a student died in an accident caused by passenger crowding at the old bus station. Against this background, they say passenger safety at the new bus station must be a priority, while the allegation of construction in a crowded spot has heightened concern. They have asked for an on-site inspection and a technical report on the effect of the construction on bus movement, boarding and alighting, platform crowding and use of the women's toilet.

Attempts to reach Transport Minister and Guardian Minister Pratap Sarnaik were unsuccessful. When contacted, his personal assistant Dnyaneshwar Vasekar sought information from Divisional Controller Ajay Patil over a conference call. Patil said during the call that the committee had decided to build the shed and that passenger safety would be looked after.

The question now is whether the bus station's original plan, the approval of the shed and the process of allotting space will be investigated. The activists demand that if the construction is found to violate rules, it be removed, responsibility be fixed and necessary measures be taken for passenger safety.