The Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) bus station in
Police Bazaar is in total shambles.
The filthy condition of the bus station clearly shows the lack of concern on the part of the MTC to maintain its own property.
It is really painful to see that the bus station has been left unattended for the past many years. Nowhere has such an important place been neglected and left unattended.
One visiting the bus station would notice the place is totally dirty with bottles of liquor strewn around the place which sends the wrong vibe for this place.
The stench emitted from the place is unbearable and halting here for five minutes seems like an hour. The filth and dirt surely does not suit the designation of a bus station.
The roof of the bus station is also totally damaged and what is amusing here is that there are places that do not even have a roof that can serve the purpose of a shade!
Many who pass through the bus station always questioned why nothing is being done to clean up the whole place.
While the Government is going all out to promote the State as a major tourist destination, the present condition of this bus station in the heart of the city would definitely give a wrong impression in the minds of the tourist who visited the State.
The present stature of the bus station has also put a serious question on the efficiency of the MTC. A lone department assigned to this is yet to function effectively. The transport officials have neglected the place to an extent that it resembles a dysfunctional garage and an upcoming garbage dump.
The fact of the matter is that in the past on several occasions the Government had to come to the rescue when the MTC was suffering from financial crisis.
Many of the employees of the MTC were encouraged to opt for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to reduce the financial burden on the corporation.
Despite not having a good track record, the State Government continues to have faith in the MTC to run the STPS buses. If its own premises are yet to be maintained at a decent level, expectations from its bus service and functionality becomes a debatable issue.
It would be interesting to see whether the MTC would be able to change its fortune by bringing profit to the Government by successfully operating the STPS buses.
(By Lamphrang Nongspung)