Dharmapuri:
Traders in Dharmapuri have urged the district administration to directly seek the views of all stakeholders before reaching a decision on the new bus terminal for the city.
In a petition submitted to the Dharmapuri Collector V Saravanan on Thursday, the traders said that the district administration was taking steps to abandon the Rajagopal bus stand, which is currently in operation.
They said the new bus stand, established by a private company, was located about 6 km from key areas of the town, causing inconvenience to commuters, students, traders, senior citizens, women and patients.
The additional distance had increased public transport and fuel expenses, they said, adding that a person could incur an additional expenditure of around ₹100 for a round trip to the new bus stand.
The traders also claimed that Dharmapuri Municipality had suffered an annual revenue loss of more than ₹6 crore following the shift to the new bus stand.
They said the livelihoods of traders operating shops near the old bus stand and load workers dependent on the area have been affected.
The traders pointed out Dharmapuri MLA Sowmya Anbumani had already raised the issue in the Assembly.
With the case pending before the court, the traders said there was a proposal to obtain the views of all stakeholders within two months and submit a report.
They urged the administration not to base its decision on the views of any particular section and instead hold an open consultation with residents, traders, students, workers and other stakeholders before taking a decision.
