PONDICHERRY: Bus commuters can soon look forward to waiting for buses in some comfort - seated in chairs at the neat bus-shelters that are coming up inside the town limit. The 10 bus shelters sponsored by various private companies and co-operative societies would be provided with chairs and lights.

Already two such shelters have come up and another two are nearing completion. The two shelters, which are nearing completion, would come up in Ginjee Salai, one in Northern Boulevard and the other one near S P North office.

Shelters are also being planned opposite the New Bus Stand, near St Antony's Church, Indira Gandhi Square and Rajiv Gandhi Statue. Besides their elegant look and commuter-friendly features, the shelters would also be used to spread various messages.

Slogans about the need for water conservation, sanitation, traffic rules and regulations and women's education would be written on boards inside the shelters, said Malar Kannan, Commissioner, Pondicherry Municipality.

He said the message about women's education would be communicated through select poems of Mahakavi Bharathiar. The Municipality also plans to provide important phone numbers of various departments like that of fire service, ambulance operators, police and tourism.

Though the decision to have bus shelters is widely welcomed by many commuters, it remains to be seen how far the Municipality would be able to maintain them properly. "Some of the existing bus shelters are in a very bad shape and we hope that the new ones will be properly maintained", said Renuka, who works in a private concern.

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