Coimbatore: Commuters at Navakkarai stopped government buses and staged a road protest on Wednesday, alleging that services on the Walayar-Gandhipuram route were not being operated as per schedule, causing prolonged waiting times for passengers.
The Navakkarai area, located along the Coimbatore-Palakkad National Highway, is a crucial transit point for thousands of school and college students, industrial workers and private-sector employees travelling daily between Walayar and Gandhipuram.
According to commuters, government buses on the route have been operating irregularly over the past few days, leaving passengers waiting for prolonged periods without a service. They alleged that after long gaps, three or four buses often arrive almost simultaneously, instead of being spaced out at regular intervals.
The erratic service has reportedly caused considerable hardship during peak hours, particularly for students who depend on the buses to reach educational institutions on time and workers and employees who need to report for duty at fixed hours.
Commuters said they had already brought the issue to the attention of the authorities but claimed that no effective corrective measures had been taken. Frustrated by the continued disruption, passengers and residents gathered at Navakkarai on Wednesday morning and stopped government buses passing through the area.
The protesters raised slogans against the State Transport Corporation, demanding that buses on the route be operated according to a proper schedule and at regular intervals, particularly during the morning and evening peak hours.
The protest briefly affected traffic movement along the Coimbatore-Palakkad National Highway as buses were stopped on the road. Police personnel reached the spot after being alerted and held talks with the protesters in an effort to resolve the issue.
The commuters have urged the authorities to ensure a consistent and properly spaced bus service on the Walayar-Gandhipuram route, especially during peak travel hours, to prevent students and workers from being inconvenienced.
