Sun Apr 13 13:12:23 UTC 2025: ## Decades-Long Neglect Leaves Budalur Bus Stand Dysfunctional
**Thanjavur, April 13, 2025** – The Budalur taluk bus stand in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, has remained largely unusable for over a decade, sparking renewed calls for its revival. Residents and activists complain of minimal bus services, inadequate facilities, and significant encroachment by vendors, particularly fish sellers on Sundays.
The bus stand, situated near key infrastructure including the Budalur railway station and Thirukattupalli Government Arts College, has failed to serve its intended purpose. Buses frequently bypass the stand, stopping instead at the Budalur Four Road Junction, half a kilometer away.
Kannan N.V., district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, attributes the decline to bus diversions during the construction of an overbridge, a problem that persists even after its completion. C. Basakar, Budalur taluk secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), highlights the encroachment, transforming the bus stand into a de facto marketplace on weekends.
While a Rural Development Department official acknowledged the persistent encroachment issue and repeated warnings issued to offenders, they stated that upgrades are contingent upon securing funding. The situation underscores the need for immediate action to restore the bus stand to functionality and alleviate the hardship faced by commuters in Budalur.
First Piper 