Lack of bus services on the Rukmani Lakshmipathy (R.L) Salai in Egmore is forcing hundreds of patients and their relatives at the Government Ophthalmic Hospital to walk at least a kilometre to board buses. They board their bus either on Pantheon Road or on Adithanar Road.
The British era hospital is functioning since 1819 and offers treatment to various eye aliments. The hospital has a bed strength of 478 including 50 beds in the special wards for its in-patients.
“We visit the hospital twice a week, travelling from Ennore. Lack of bus services in front of the hospital forces us to walk a long distance . With poor vision, walking such a long distance within the city is difficult,” said S.Ponniammal, a resident of Ennore and a patient.
Students from the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, located opposite the hospital, also complaining too. “We go to the bus stop opposite the subordinate court in Egmore . However, the intersection there is chaotic during rush hour ,” said K.Priya, a student.
Revenue prospects
According to MTC officials, the hospital and the regional institute are connected to important stretches like Pantheon Road, Adithanar Road and the Police Commissioner Road which boast of frequent bus services.
Further, they said that dedicated bus services at R.L. Salai did not have revenue prospects as the commuters, mainly patients and students, came out of the facilities there at different times and that too in small numbers.
“We cannot even meet our maintenance costs including diesel in running the bus services on the stretch,” said a MTC official.
