Suburban areas still out of the map of ‘efficient’ MTC

MTC sources said that only a few buses were being operated since Monday, when the cyclone wreaked havoc in the city. Sources added that the MTC crew had difficulty in driving the buses as they had to navigate through uprooted trees, fallen electric poles and damaged bus shelters. The MTC stopped its services later on Monday afternoon. 

“We operated only 50 per cent of the buses on December 13. The number of buses increased, after the skies remained clear on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, we learnt that some residents were resorting to road blockades and more number of fallen trees were left on the middle of the road and we reduced the number of buses yet again,” said an official.

Commuters from the suburbs complained that the MTC did not operate its full fleet. “Cyclone Vardah caused damages in the suburbs too. In such a condition, the officials should operate buses to all the suburbs for the convenience of passengers,” said P Viswanathan, Coordinator, Chitlapakkam Residents Association. A senior MTC official, requesting anonymity, said “On December 14, we operated only 60 per cent of the buses. We will ensure full service in the both the city and suburbs from Thursday onwards.”