MTC route change increases patronage, but irks regular commuters

However, for those who were regular commuters of the bus till now, this has led to much inconvenience.

Earlier, the MTC was operating the bus on route number 11H from the Iyappanthangal bus depot to Broadway terminus. It covered 42 stops including Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Porur, Retteri

Karambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alwar Thirunagar, West Muthumariamman Koil, Nesapakkam, Mettupalayam, Anjugam School, T Nagar Power House, Mariyamman Koil, Vanavali, DMS and Gemini. But recently, the transport utility changed the route of 11H buses along the 16J route. Now, it is operated between Iyappanthangal bus depot and Koyambedu Mofussil Bus Terminus.

Last week, the bus crew were directed to ply along the 16J route considering a good patronage enjoyed along this route. On this route, the bus will ply along Chinmaya Nagar, Koyambedu Market and Rohini Theatre before reaching CMBT.

This move has seriously affected the regular commuters bound for Ashok Pillar, T Nagar and Broadway, as the new route covers only 10 stops of the old route – SRMC, Mount Ponamallee Road, Retteri, Porur, Venkateswara Hospital, Karambakkam, Lakshmi Nagar, Jai Nagar and Valsaravakkam.

“I was depending on the MTC service to reach my college in Gemini. But the diversion of buses has created new hassles for regular travelers like me. While I was conveniently commuting on a straight bus earlier, I am now forced to board a bus bound for Gemini from Guindy,”said Apoorva, a college student and once a regular commuter.

The new bus route also bypasses important routes like Ashok Pillar, Mettupalayam, Duraiswamy Road, T Nagar Power House and Teynampet.

In another new arrangement, the MTC bus on route number 37 G has been extended till Poonamallee to increase the patronage along this route. This bus route comprised of 61 stops, plying along Iyappanthangal bus depot.

When asked, a senior MTV official said, “The bus routes were modified as we registered a sharp increase in the number of passengers commuting along these routes. The routes are being constantly monitored with an aim to improve the connectivity.”