Stagnant sewage at bus terminus in Tiruvannamalai irks commuters

Passengers had to pass through stagnant sewage at the ₹34-crore modern bus terminus on Chennai – Tindivanam Road in Tiruvannamalai town on Sunday due to pipeline burst.

Passengers said stagnant sewage near bus stops made the ground slippery and watery. “After worship at the Arunachaleswara temple on Pournami day, we came to the terminal to catch a bus to our hometown Villupuram. Stagnant sewage water poses health risks to passengers who came with their children,” said K. Mangalam, one of the passengers.

Passengers as well as buses had to pass through stagnant sewers to reach bus stops, passengers said.

Officials of Tiruvannamalai Corporation, which maintains the facility, said the terminal aims to provide bus connectivity to devotees. Between 80,000 and 1.2 lakh visitors come to the city on weekdays, mostly to worship at the Arunachaleswara temple. During Chitra Pournami, around 25 lakh devotees throng the town to worship.

Civilian staff were alerted to the leak by a time attendant at the terminal, company officials said. Valve explosion may have occurred due to water pressure in the pipelines. The damaged valve and pipeline were repaired to prevent further sewage leaks. S. Selva Balaji, Commissioner of Tiruvannamalai Corporation, said, “The stagnant sewage was evacuated using motor pump sets. Such valve bursts occur periodically in pipelines. Efforts have been made to maintain hygiene in the facility.” Hindu.