CHENNAI: Buses bound to Bengaluru and other northwestern districts in Tamil Nadu will continue to be operated from CMBT in Koyambedu, as chairperson of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) PK Sekarbabu, who is also the minister for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department, pushed the opening of the new bus terminus in Kuthambakkam near Tirumazhisai to the end of the year.
Earlier, the minister had assured that the ongoing works for the new bus terminus would be completed and opened to the public in June or July. The terminus is being constructed at Rs 414 crore to house buses bound to Bengaluru, Hosur, Vellore, Krishnagiri, and other places.
“Works for parking space, toilets, drinking water facility, dormitories for drivers and conductors, security arrangements, medical infrastructure, and others are under way. The works will be completed soon, and the facility will be opened before the end of this year. If the (northeast) monsoon is not strong, the bus terminus will be opened before November,” Sekarbabu said after inspecting the works on Sunday evening.
He added that weekly inspections will be conducted in Kuthambakkam to expedite the works. Speaking on operational difficulties in the Kilambakkam bus terminus, the minister said that all the issues have been rectified properly. “There were complaints over the lack of transport facilities during night hours. Arrangements have been made to operate buses in late hours. Also, the construction works of the railway station in Kilambakkam will be completed in August or September. Construction of a police station in Kilambakkam is nearing completion,” he said.
On the other hand, the work for revamping the Madhavaram bus terminus is delayed due to the ongoing Metro Rail works nearby. After the works are completed, operations of buses to the southern districts will commence. However, a few buses have been operating for the last 45 days, he added.
On Monday, Sekarbabu, along with officials, inspected works that are undertaken as a part of Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam (VCVT) and instructed the officials to expedite construction of an apartment building with 700 dwelling units on Walltax Road.