Family legacy of bus stop building connects Christabel’s worlds in India and Ireland

What connects a bus stop in Pilarkhana, in rural India and Mullingar? The answer is Christabel d’Souza, who manages the dispatch for TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon, based in Mullingar and whose family builds bus stops as a legacy to honour those who have passed away.

One of the bus stops Christabel’s family built was to honour her grandfather Henry D’Souza. Built in 1985, the bus stop is located in Pilarkhana, Kaup Taluk, Udupi District, Karnataka, on the south west coast of India.

“We hope this bus stop will serve its purpose for many generations,” said Christabel, “and with me being a part of a TFI Local Link team, the idea of it makes me feel extremely happy, the idea that something my family built is providing comfort and shelter for people waiting for their buses.

“There has been talks by the local council authority about widening of the roads in the village and our family are hoping that it will not need to be taken down.

“Here, we all know how important it is to work towards creating sustainable, viable, accessible and affordable public transport networks and bus stops are so important to that,” she said, adding that she hopes the local authority working on the roads knows just how highly prized and sought after a good sheltered bus stop with seating is.