Date:21/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/21/stories/2008032150820300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Sankagiri to get a new bus stand

Staff Reporter

SANKAGIRI: The long cherished dream of people of Sankagiri will soon become a reality with the State Government approving the construction of a new bus stand in the town.

The town, located on the Salem Coimbatore National Highways, is identified in the Tamil Nadu map as a hub for lorry rigs.

It has lorry body building units.

The existing bus stand in the town does not have adequate space.

Only seven to eight buses can be parked there currently. The need for a spacious new bus stand is strongly felt as long distance buses stop right on the National Highways to facilitate passengers to board/alight thus causing congestion in the town.

A large number of buses are being operated between Salem and Coimbatore/Erode via Sankagiri.

Besides, over 50 town buses arrive and depart from the existing bus stand connecting several villages in Edapadi and Sankagiri taluks.

Over 10,000 passengers including students, office-goers and workers of various industrial units living in the surrounding villages access the bus stand to travel to Salem, Erode and Coimbatore regularly.

The existing bus stand also lack passenger amenities.

As a result, people are demanding the government for long to construct a new spacious bus stand with all

passenger amenities. Sankagiri MLA and Deputy Speaker of State Assembly V.P. Duraisamy has taken up the issue with the Chief Minister.

Following this, the State government has identified 1.11 hectares to establish the new bus stand.