Begin typing your search...
After 2-year hiatus, AC buses return to Chennai
The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) on Friday relaunched AC bus services in two routes after suspending Volvo bus service in November 2018.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
Two AC buses were operated on the route numbers 570 between CMBT and Siruseri and 91 between Tambaram and Tiruvanmiyur. The transport corporation plans to operate on five more routes – Central Railway Station to Tiruvanmiyur (A1), T Nagar to Kelambakkam (19B), Koyambedu to Vandalur (70V), East Tambaram to Tiruvanmiyur (95) and Broadway to Kelambakkam (102).
In a statement, managing director K Ganesan said that the transport corporation has bought 48 AC buses for Rs 36 lakh. The vehicles were introduced after they were showcased to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam in the presence of Transport Minister MRVijayabhaskar on Thursday.
The minimum ticket price has been fixed at Rs 15 and maximum is Rs 60 till Siruseri, MTC officials said.
The AC buses were designed as per the norms of the Association Research Association of India (ARAI) considering the passengers’ convenience. “The seats are very good in quality. The buses have seating capacity of 40 seats and can accommodate 20 other passengers,” he said, adding that the buses have automatic GPS-based public address system so that passengers to know the names of the approaching bus stops.
Minister Vijayabhaskar said that the MTC would operate 48 AC buses in the city, according to the demands of thepassengers.
A senior MTC official said that once the new AC buses are delivered, it would be introduced in the seven selected routes. “The seven routes are identified as per the patronage for the Volvo buses. The buses will ply in south Chennai, particularly on the IT corridoron Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and Grand Southern Trunk Road along Tambaram,” the official said.
The 100 Volvo AC buses, operated earlier, were taken off the road in a phased manner. The minimum ticket price was Rs 28.
MTC to run 310 special buses to five terminals
Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) on Friday announced operation of 310 special buses connecting five temporary bus terminals from where out-station buses will be operated for three days from Sunday.
“Special link buses will be available from January 12 to January 15, connecting five temporary bus terminals. This will facilitate travel during Pongal and reduce the traffic snarls in Chennai,” a MTC release said.
The long-distance buses will be operated from Madhavaram Moffusil Bus Terminus, Tambaram New Bus Terminus (MEPZ) and Tambaram Railway Station, Poonamallee Bus Terminus, CMBT Bus Terminus and KK Nagar Bus Terminus to facilitate traffic free movement of the vehicles.
Apart from the usual daily services to the terminals, MTC will be operating 310 special buses on January 12 to 14 round the clock. Andhra Pradesh bound buses would be operated from the Madhavaram New Bus stand to which MTC will operating 36 special bus services. MTC will operate 23 special buses to KK Nagar bus terminus from where the long-distance plying via ECR to Puducherry, Cuddalore and Chidambaram.
The long-distance buses to Tindivanam, Vikkravandi, Panruti and Thiruvannamalai would ply from Tambaram MEPZ and railway station. MTC will operate 106 special buses. While buses plying via Vellore will be operated from Poonamallee from where MTC will operate 72 special buses. All other long-distance buses will be operated from CMBT to which MTC will operate 73 special buses.
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android
Next Story
