Festival rush
Transport minister A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban said passengers with advance reservations could board direct buses from 16 locations across the city, including Tambaram, Avadi, Tiruvanmiyur, Adyar and Poonamallee, instead of travelling to Kilambakkam to catch outstation buses. “We expect at least 6,000 people to travel to Kilambakkam every day, for which around 2,000 buses may be required. We want to save passengers’ time and the nearly ₹1,000 they would otherwise spend travelling to Kilambakkam. Around 26,139 buses will operate between other districts, the minister said.
This will also help ease traffic congestion,” he said. A transport department release said, buses will also operate from five locations in Chennai. They can select their preferred boarding point on the app while booking tickets. The Kilambakkam terminus will handle buses bound for Puducherry, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Trichy, Madurai, Thoothukudi, Sengottai, Tirunelveli, Salem and Coimbatore. Buses to Vandavasi, Polur and Tiruvannamalai will operate from a temporary terminus at the open space near the CMDA Climate Park in Kilambakkam. The temporary terminus at Maraimalai Nagar will handle services to Kumbakonam, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam. From the Koyambedu terminus, buses will operate towards East Coast Road (ECR), Kancheepuram, Vellore, Bengaluru and Tiruttani. The Madhavaram New Bus Terminus will handle buses to Andhra Pradesh via Ponneri and Uthukottai, besides regular services to Trichy, Salem, Kumbakonam and Tiruvannamalai. Round-the-clock shuttle services will also connect Koyambedu with Kilambakkam and free MTC services will connect Maraimalainagar from Kilambakkam.
Passengers can contact 149 or 94450 14436 for government bus-related queries. Complaints against omni buses, including overcharging, can be made at 1800 425 6151 or via WhatsApp at 93848 08333.
He said complaints against drivers and conductors, including those received through social media, would be investigated and disciplinary action taken if allegations were proved. He warned against refusing passengers or making them get off midway, and stressed the need to ensure their safe boarding and alighting. Earlier on Tuesday, the transport minister held a meeting and directed government bus drivers and conductors to treat passengers courteously and stop only at designated bus stops.