Old shelter demolished, new one not built: Variņi residents still waiting for bus stop shelters
Two bus stops in Variņi parish lack shelters—one was demolished six years ago during road reconstruction and never replaced, while the other never had one.
In Variņi parish, along the Smiltene–Gulbene road, two public transport stops—Ķeņģi and Ūdrupe—are without shelters. This means residents, including schoolchildren and elderly people, have no protection from rain, wind, snow, or heat while waiting for the bus.
The Ķeņģi stop once had a shelter, but according to local residents, it was demolished about six years ago during the reconstruction of the state road Smiltene–Gulbene. A new shelter was never built, leaving the stop exposed to the elements ever since.
The lack of shelters is a concern, especially in winter or during rainy weather, when waiting can be prolonged and uncomfortable. Residents are unsure whether or when the municipality plans to install new shelters at these stops.
