Pongal exodus begins; over 12L to leave city

Pongal exodus begins; over 12L to leave city 

Staggered Travel Plans To Reduce Jams 

Ram.Sundaram@timesofindia.com  11.01.2025

Chennai : The Pongal exodus began on Friday, with more than 12 lakh people expected to leave the city over the next four days using 14,100 govt buses, 370 trains, 8,000 private bus trips and private cars. The govt’s declaration of Jan 17 as a holiday created an extended nine-day break for state employees, if they take leave on Jan 13. Many already left for their native places on Friday evening. Similarly, parents waiting for schools to close will travel on Saturday, while Monday is expected to see another spike in demand as private companies close for three days, said R Mohan, managing director of State Express Transport Corporation (SETC). For the first time, temporary bus stops at KK Nagar and Poonamallee have been removed, with the Kilambakkam MTC bus stand designated for trips to nearby districts. Unlike previous years, when departures were concentrated within 24 hours, this staggered travel may reduce peak jams, but traffic woes are likely to persist. Private car users are advised to take the Thirukalukundram route to avoid GST Road congestion. Combined with highway patrols, these measures are expected to improve traffic flow on the critical Tambaram-Chengalpet stretch, a key route for vehicles heading to Madurai, Trichy, Coimbatore and Salem. Ticket prices surged across all modes of transport. For instance, a one-way trip to Coimbatore on an airconditioned private sleeper bus cost ₹5,000 on Friday and Monday nights. Some operators are demanding the full fare even if passengers want to alight midway. For examp le, a Trivandrum-bound bus charges ₹3,000 whether passengers get down in Trichy or travel to the final destination, said AAnbalagan, president of the all omni bus owners association. “We have been meeting operators and asking them to follow this method. People cannot expect us to charge normal fares seen during regular weekdays, when buses to Coimbatore run at ₹600 per head. The permanent solution would be for the govt to regulate fares during such seasons,” Anbalagan said. However, the state conducted only some checks and made promises of action based on complaints.