Extra buses, 4 terminuses for diwali rush

TNN | Oct 7, 2017, 12:16 IST

Every year before Diwali, boarding a bus home be comes a headache especially if it is at the eleventh hour. Buses are plenty but the numbers add to the confusion.

 To avoid that, the state government has decided to operate services from four makeshift terminuses during the festival season for three days from October 15. State transport minister M R Vijayabhaskar said all buses for Andhra Pradesh will leave from Anna Nagar bus terminus, while those heading towards Puducherry and Chidambaram will be operated from Saidapet court bus stop. From the MEPZterminus at Tambaram Sanatorium buses going to Kumbakonam via Tindivanam and Vikravandi will leave, while services bound for Krishnagiri and Hosur will be operated from the Poonamallee bus terminus. The rest of the services to other cities across the state will start from the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT), Koy ambedu. So if a bus bound for Puducherry via ECR is supposed to start from CMBT, between October 15 and 17, it will leave from Saidapet. Other services will be adjusted accordingly .

In addition to the daily 6,825 buses from Chennai, the transport department will run 4,820 special buses, taking the number of services to 11,645. From the districts, 11,111 services including the specials will be operated during this period, Vijayabhaskar said. Twenty-nine special booking counters will be made available across the city, he said.

Since traffic will be heavy be tween Tambaram and Perungalathur during the festive V season, the minister ad C vised those travelling t south by car to take the ECR, reach Chengalpet via Thirukazhukundram and then head south.

Heavy vehicles entering the city through Chengal pet and Maduravoyal will not be allowed on to ply between 2pm and 2am during the holiday sea son, Vijayabhaskar said adding that omni buses if found transporting crackers or fleecing passengers will be pulled up.