Chennai: With Diwali travel demand picking up, the state transport department has planned 15,659 bus services, including 9,086 special buses, from Chennai between November 5 and 7 to manage the festive rush.Transport minister A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban said passengers with advance reservations could board direct buses from 16 locations across the city, including Tambaram, Avadi, Tiruvanmiyur, Adyar and Poonamallee, instead of travelling to Kilambakkam to catch outstation buses.“We expect at least 6,000 people to travel to Kilambakkam every day, for which around 2,000 buses may be required. We want to save passengers’ time and the nearly ₹1,000 they would otherwise spend travelling to Kilambakkam. They can select their preferred boarding point on the app while booking tickets. This will also help ease traffic congestion,” he said.A total of 14 advance reservation counters will function at Kilambakkam (10), Koyambedu (two) and the temporary terminus at Maraimalai Nagar (two).A transport department release said, buses will also operate from five locations in Chennai. The Kilambakkam terminus will handle buses bound for Puducherry, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Trichy, Madurai, Thoothukudi, Sengottai, Tirunelveli, Salem and Coimbatore. Buses to Vandavasi, Polur and Tiruvannamalai will operate from a temporary terminus at the open space near the CMDA Climate Park in Kilambakkam. The temporary terminus at Maraimalai Nagar will handle services to Kumbakonam, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam. From the Koyambedu terminus, buses will operate towards East Coast Road (ECR), Kancheepuram, Vellore, Bengaluru and Tiruttani. The Madhavaram New Bus Terminus will handle buses to Andhra Pradesh via Ponneri and Uthukottai, besides regular services to Trichy, Salem, Kumbakonam and Tiruvannamalai. Round-the-clock shuttle services will also connect Koyambedu with Kilambakkam and free MTC services will connect Maraimalainagar from Kilambakkam. Around 26,139 buses will operate between other districts, the minister said.The department has planned 11,197 services, including 6,815 special buses, from various destinations to Chennai on November 9 and 10.Earlier on Tuesday, the transport minister held a meeting and directed government bus drivers and conductors to treat passengers courteously and stop only at designated bus stops. He warned against refusing passengers or making them get off midway, and stressed the need to ensure their safe boarding and alighting.He said complaints against drivers and conductors, including those received through social media, would be investigated and disciplinary action taken if allegations were proved.Motorists have been advised to avoid the Tambaram-Perungalathur stretch and use OMR via Kelambakkam, Thiruporur and Chengelpet or the Vandalur Outer Ring Road to avoid congestion.Passengers can contact 149 or 94450 14436 for government bus-related queries. Complaints against omni buses, including overcharging, can be made at 1800 425 6151 or via WhatsApp at 93848 08333.
