16,888 buses to ply from Chennai, other places in TN for Deepavali

CHENNAI: The State-run Transport Corporations will operate 16,888 buses, including 10,588 special buses from Chennai and other districts, in order to facilitate the public visit their native places to celebrate Deepavali on October 24.

After reviewing the preparation for operation of special buses with senior official at the Secretariat on Monday, Transport Minister SS Sivasankar said a total of 10,518 buses, including special buses, would be operated from the city to various parts of the State from October 21 to 23 from five bus termini in Chennai.

“Along with daily services of 2,100 buses, we will operate 4,218 special buses from the city. From other parts of the State, we will operate 6,370 buses for the three days,” he said.

He added that the MTC would operate special link buses from Dr MGR bus terminus in Koyambedu to the four bus termini from where the special buses would be operated.

The special buses would be operated according to segregated routes from the four termini, including Madhavaram (bound for Uthukottai via RedHills, Ponneri and Gummidipoondi), KK Nagar (Puducherry via ECR), Tambaram MEPZ (Thanjavur and Kumbakonam bound buses via Tindivanam), Tambaram Railway station (Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Puducherry, Panruti and Neyveli bound buses via Tindivanam), Poonamallee terminus (Kancheepuram, Vellore, Arani, Arcot, Tirupattur and Dharmapuri), and Koyambedu (Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Tiruchy, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Salem and Coimbatore). Special buses would also be operated from the bus terminus located near Tambaram railway station.

Minister Sivasankar said that the buses leaving Koyambedu terminus would reach Urapakkam temporary bus terminus via Outer Ring Road to take passengers who had booked tickets from Tambaram and Perungalathur.

For the benefit of the passengers returning after Deepavali, the corporation would operate 13,152 buses for people to return to Chennai and other places for three days from October 24. The Transport Corporations would operate 9,362 buses, including 3,062 special buses, for the benefit of commuters arriving from across the State to Chennai and 3.790 special buses between important destinations.

The Minister said passengers could make use of the online ticket booking facility. Also, a round-the-clock control room for passengers in Koyambedu and mobile numbers for complaint, 9445014450 and 9445014436, have been set up.

He also warned of action against omnibus operators if passengers complain of high ticket fares. The passengers can complain against Omni buses on the toll free numbers: 1800 425 6151, 044-24749002, 044-26280445, 044-26281611.