Commuters using Chennai’s Lighthouse bus stop are being left exposed to heat and rain as a rusted, leaky shelter offers limited seating and remains partly occupied by vendors, according to a report by the Times of India. The stop is located opposite D5 Marina Police Station and serves passengers travelling towards Marina Beach and several parts of the city.
The shelter’s sheet roof has visible rusted portions and gaps, while its open sides provide little protection from weather. The structure has seating for barely six people, forcing other passengers to stand while waiting for buses. Commuters said parts of the space are also occupied by vendors selling anklets and bracelets. At other times, some people sleep on the shed floor, they said.
S Saranya, who regularly takes the 109 bus to Kovalam, said there was no proper place to sit and that elderly passengers were also forced to stand. A Lazar, another commuter, said the roof would not protect passengers during rain and called for a sturdier shelter. He also pointed to another bus shelter on Loop Road, near the modern fish market, which he said was in a similar condition.
The Lighthouse stop is used by regular commuters as well as visitors heading to Marina Beach. Buses, including deluxe and air-conditioned services, reportedly arrive at intervals of about five minutes, making the condition of the shelter significant for passengers who wait there throughout the day.
Several Metropolitan Transport Corporation routes connect the area with different parts of Chennai. These include route 21G between Tambaram and Broadway via Lighthouse, 27D between Foreshore Estate and Villivakkam, 12G between KK Nagar and Lighthouse, and 45B between Anna Square and Guindy. The stop is also used by passengers travelling towards Kovalam and other southern destinations.
The condition of the shelter comes as Chennai debates air-conditioned bus shelters and upgrades ahead of the northeast monsoon. Commuters said they wanted basic amenities, including safe seating, weather protection and a space free from encroachments, rather than a facility that leaves them exposed while waiting for public transport.
Despite repeated attempts by the Times of India, Greater Chennai Corporation officials could not be reached for comment. No official timeline for repairing or replacing the Lighthouse bus stop shelter was available in the report.
