Lack of regular small bus facility digs heavy into commuters’ pockets

Speaking to DT Next, Abirami, a resident of Perungalathur said that bus route S90 which used to come to her neighbourhood on a daily basis, “Failed to function regularly in the past few months, the bus is now operating only once a week,” Abirami said. “S90 will be operated several times in a month,” she added.

In 2014, two small buses services S90 and S83 were started to connect Gundumedu, Amudam Nagar, Mudichur, Old Perungalathur and Tambaram. “Now even the S83 is not functioning properly. The bus initially used to run from 5.30 am till 9.30 pm but now it is operating only sometime in the afternoon and evening,” Abirami said.

Similarly, in Chromepet two small bus services S3 and S8 plied through Chromepet ESI hospital, Radha Nagar, Chitlapakkam, Thirumalai Nagar, Sembakkam, Rajakeelpakkam and Madambakam. However, now, residents claim both the buses services are not functioning.

The situation is same in Urapakkam, as the S5 bus which connects Urapakkam with Keerapakkam has been terminated completely.

The residents of suburbs claimed that they have started to go in search of auto rickshaws and the fare is thrice the fare of small buses.

When contacted, MTC Managing director Anbu Abraham said, “We will soon look into the issue and take necessary steps for making the buses function regularly like it was in the beginning”

The small bus facility was introduced in the year 2013 by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, to make the travel convenient for the people living in the suburbs and interior areas by providing them connectivity to the nearby railway stations and bus stops in the city.