Nashik: Nearly 30% of the Nimani bus terminus, a vital part of the city's transport infrastructure, is now waterlogged.A visit to the bus terminus - located in the busy Panchavati area - revealed that several of its sections have become virtually inaccessible for commuters. Potholes and slush covered the ground and passengers said they were not even able to access public toilets at the terminus."The section right next to the passenger area is completely waterlogged," said Sanjay Misal, a resident of Kewal Park, DGP Nagar."Passengers are not able to access the toilets that were built for the public. The men can, at least, go to the far end of the terminus to relieve themselves, but the women can't," Misal said.The terminus, from where buses are launched to several parts of the city, is run by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). A few days ago, activists from some political groups staged a protest here by planting tree saplings in the waterlogged sections. The protesters demanded MSRTC officials take immediate measures to make inundated areas of the bus terminus accessible again for commuters. They also slammed the transport agency for not doing enough to protect the bus station from rain.According to commuters, the problem becomes worse when bus drivers park a distance away from the designated bays."This is a huge problem. If I wait for a bus in the passenger area, I will not get a seat to sit. So, I am forced to walk through dirty water if I have to board a bus and secure a seat for myself. Buses here are almost always never parked at bus bays, from where they are supposed to pick up passengers," said 54 year-old Sangeeta Nathe, a teacher who travels to Ambad daily.However, MSRTC officials said the number of platforms at the terminus is not enough to handle the increasing traffic. This is why, officials said, bus drivers were parking the vehicles some distance away from bus bays. But some of the drivers TOI spoke to insisted waterlogging at the bus terminus was the primary problem."When the MSRTC had decided to tar-coat the station's premises, it should have planned ahead to protect the terminus from waterlogging during the rains," said a bus driver. He then pointed at a waterlogged section of the terminus. "This area, for example, does not have an exit for rainwater. That is the real problem here," he said.The MSRTC said it's aware of the problem. An official from the transport agency said it has decided to resolve the matter. But no dates or deadlines were offered.“We are aware of the problems caused by waterlogging at the bus terminus. We will address the issues,” a senior MSRTC officer said.

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