Kilambakkam bus terminus awaits NMA nod

“We came to know that the NMA has cleared our application to give permission to carry out construction works at the proposed site. However, we are yet to get official message from NMA. Once CMDA receives the official message, the works will start. But it will take few more weeks,” said an official source from CMDA.

The Chief Minister had laid the foundation stone on Friday for the Rs 393.74 crore project that was announced eight years ago to decongest the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) in Koyambedu. Once the construction works are completed, the new bus terminus would house south-bound buses. This bus terminus would be the third one in Chennai after CMBT, and Madhavaram bus terminus, from where the Andhra Pradesh bound buses are operated.

Spread across 88.52 acres of land off GST Road, the bus terminus would be able to accommodate 250 buses, 270 cars and 3,500 two-wheelers at a time. The built-up area would cover more than 44.74 acres.

As the site reserved for the Kilambakkam bus terminus lies close to a megalithic burial site, which is an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) notified monument, the works were delayed. As per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Act, 2010, construction activities would not be permitted up to 100 meters from the notified site.

“However, construction of the terminus will come beyond the restriction. But NMA’s nod is necessary for undertaking construction works between 200- 300 meters. The authority had earlier rejected our application seeking clearance, and sought a report on environmental impact in the project area. Now, they accepted the report and cleared our application. We are expecting to receive the official communication this week,” the source added.

The source also added that the tender processes were already completed, and the works would be completed in 24 months.