The Hindu : Poor medical facilities at CMBT

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 30, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Poor medical facilities at CMBT

By S. Shivakumar

CHENNAI DEC. 29. The poor medical facilities at the `modern multi-crore' Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) and the lack of co-ordination between various agencies, including the police, were exposed on Saturday afternoon when an aged bus passenger collapsed without any assistance available nearby.

Two women, who had accompanied the old man, were put to hardship as there was no ambulance facility nor any medical centre to provide immediate assistance. "It took about 15 minutes for a wheelchair to be arranged for the old man to be taken to the autorickshaw stand and rush to hospital," according to an eyewitness.

The non-availability of the ambulance was compounded by the restriction on entry of autorickshaws into the portico to take the patient away.

The condition of the passenger was not known as the police were not involved in the episode and were not aware of the incident. Enquiries reveal that even the police outpost is not equipped with a telephone connection. There is no first aid centre. Despite a sharp increase in the number of accidents in the area after the bus terminal has become fully operational, the authorities have failed to provide even basic necessities.

About 20 policemen are posted at the terminus, and they work in two shifts. Though they have about five walkie-talkies, these were useful only to communicate within the terminus. In any emergency, they would alert the outpost, and from there, the information would be passed. The presence of these police personnel is hardly visible in the sprawling bus terminus.

"We need a comprehensive security system which should include electronic surveillance and other modern gadgets. This would at least serve as a deterrent to potential criminals," a retired police official said.

Passengers complain that information about bus services is also not clear.

Though private security personnel are engaged at the terminus, their job ends with regulating vehicles.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that an NGO came forward to assist the authorities at the terminus and work for a better environment. A top official at the CMDA supported the idea, but the agency's officials at the lower level have resisted the move, as ``it will lead to greater transparency''.

"Voluntary organisations will be only eager to donate an ambulance for the bus terminus, but what about the maintenance," a commuter asked.

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