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Mauritius: The Jan Palach Mess!
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L'Express (Port Louis)
23 January 2008
Posted to the web 24 January 2008
Bilkiss Jaffaralli
Port Louis
You have an adventurous spirit? Then the Jan Palach labyrinth in Curepipe is where you need be. That is if you're not afraid of going deaf or having your lungs filled with thick black smoke, amongst other risks
Passengers have to rush to the parking for the buses and it's your problem if you haven't seen the bus.
Buses wrongly stationed here and there, deaf-rendering horn sounds, thick black smoke, garbage flying like dry leaves with the wind, rat infestation, stinking smells; such is the usual scene at the Jan Palach Bus Station in Curepipe. But the more recent one is the mismanagement of the bus station itself. Compared to what existed previously, today it's no more a bus station, it's just a mess!
Passengers running in all directions, looking desperately for their bus but in vain! No information boards! Where previously there was some fixed 'bus departure parking', today even this has disappeared. The passengers are confused and they group together near the stationmaster's office with the hope of hearing a bus conductor indicating them where the bus is.
Total chaos
Where is the bus? This is the big question. Passengers have to rush in the parking to look for the buses. And that's your problem if you have not seen them. You will have to wait. Wait while keeping your eyes and ears wide open and be attentive and alert as well! Wait till they decide to put a bus on your 'bus route'. Where previously there was a fixed departure time, today you never know when the departure time is, wherever you have missed the bus or sometimes, if you have climbed on the right bus or not!
"It's total chaos at Jan Palach. There's no indication or sign board. The departure times also are unknown", says Alex Legan, a passenger. On the other side, the stationmaster says: "It's true that there are no fixed bus departure parking places. The bus station is too small. There's no indication because all our information boards have been stolen".
"There are only 3 bus departure parking spaces for more than six bus routes. We are forced to put the buses on the parking itself. Reasons for lateness and delay of departures are traffic jams and mechanical problems", explains Sahid, a passenger and ex-driver of the National Transport Corporation (NTC).
Though the station seems to be over parked with buses, there seem to be lesser NTC buses put on the bus routes from Jan Palach. Worse is the situation if you intend to take the bus during the weekend and especially on Sundays! Unforgettable is the experience where I missed the Rivière-du-Rempart bus. Myself and other passengers had to wait for the same bus to return from Rivière-Du-Rempart. Despite several buses being on the parking, none was put on this bus route.
Cockroach- infested
The state of the buses also is pathetic. Passengers have been complaining about third- class buses being put on small distance routes. There are a few buses where you can even see the road from holes in the bus floor. Others have extremely good ventilation but pray God that it does not rain as you may even have to open your umbrellas in the bus! Free are the showers in the bus when it's raining! Not to mention our tiny co-passengers - called cockroaches. The buses are infested with them.
Moreover, if the window panes are not brown with thick and sticky dust and mud in summer, it is infested with green fungus in winter and during the rainy season! "Buses of not very good condition are often put on small distance lines", says a stationmaster.
Jan Palach, is also known as a hot spot for delinquents. Secondary students often bunk classes and spend time on the station. Misbehaviour, tobacco and alcohol are part of their image. Eshan, hawker for 10 years at Jan Palach says: "The youngsters are doing a bit too much. They always use a vulgar language and so do the bus private bus conductors and drivers. Boys and girls smoke and drink on the bus station. There are gangs of drowsy people walking together. The situation has not changed for years. When late asst superintendent Raddhoa was in charge of the bus station, it was the same and today it is stille the same". On the other side, Satya, a prison officer says: "Things have worsened after ASP Radhoa's death. Drug deals are becoming too frequent here. Even the youngsters are taking drugs".
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Mr. and Mrs. Ning, shop owners at the bus station say that since a week, the police are doing constant raids at Jan Palach and thus, the delinquents are less seen around these days. They hope that this will always be the situation. If the police force seems to be back to work; the NTC must certainly wake up and upgrade its services at Jan Palach.
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