State Express Transport Corporation buses from CMBT diverted via Ashok Pillar, Pallavaram
A section of commuters rued that the move would increase travel time by 90 minutes for those boarding buses at the CMBT.
Published: 23rd September 2019 07:55 AM |
By Anbuselvan B
Express News Service
The State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) on Sunday diverted all buses bound for central and southern districts, which originate at CMBT, via Vadapalani, Guindy, Pallavaram and Tambaram. So far, except a few select ordinary services, all buses including the air-conditioned, have run via the Chennai bypass road.
While the SETC said the decision was aimed at ensuring ease for south suburban commuters who have to travel up to Perungalathur for boarding buses, a section of commuters rued that the move would increase travel time by 90 minutes for those boarding buses at the CMBT.
The higher travel time during festival season would force many to opt for private omnibuses, commuters said.
Official sources said that so far commuters from Guindy, Adyar, Taramani, St. Thomas Mount, Pallavaram, Madipakkam, Kovilambakkam, Thiruvanmiyur and Thuraipakkam faced hardships in boarding SETC buses at Perungalathur owing to shortage of MTC buses and heavy traffic during rush hour.
Similarly, during the return journey, commuters from Tiruchy and Madurai get down at Perungalathur and board MTC bus or take cab to reach their destinations in suburban areas.
V Baskaran, Managing Director, SETC, said, "From June, ordinary services are operated via inner ring road and GST road during non-rush hour. Henceforth, all buses will be diverted via Ashok Pillar and Tambaram. The southern suburban areas are densely populated and the decision was taken only for the benefit of commuters.
Given that the bridge construction works at Koyambedu, Pallavaram and Vandalur have been delayed for 12 months and are yet to be completed, regular travellers from northern parts of Chennai pointed out that the move would only increase the traffic congestion and thereby the travel time.
"Both GST and inner ring road witness huge vehicular pile-up during rush hour. Adding over 1,000 buses would only increase the vehicular traffic, forcing the commuters to opt for private omnibuses," said S Sankaran of Anna Nagar, a bus enthusiast.
A few SETC drivers and conductors said though the move increased the ticket revenue, the travel time increased by two hours. "If the buses are diverted after completion of on-going bridge works, it will benefit both commuters and workers."
Factfile:
1. On June 20, SETC diverted select ordinary services via inner ring road and GST instead of bypass road during non-rush hour
2. From Sunday onwards, all buses operated via Chennai-Tiruchy NH were diverted via Vadapalani, Pallavaram and Tambaram
3. SETC operates AC sleeper, AC seater and non-AC sleeper buses
4. South suburban commuters travel upto Perungalathur to board buses
5. Flyovers being constructed at Koyambedu, Pallavaram and Vandalur
6. GST and inner ring road witness traffic snarls during rush hour
7. Travel time of SETC buses has increased by 90 to 120 minutes
8. A section commuters say the move is aimed to force the commuters to opt for omnibuses
9. SETC operates 1,175 buses in 685 routes
A section of commuters rued that the move would increase travel time by 90 minutes for those boarding buses at the CMBT.
Published: 23rd September 2019 07:55 AM |
By Anbuselvan B
Express News Service
The State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) on Sunday diverted all buses bound for central and southern districts, which originate at CMBT, via Vadapalani, Guindy, Pallavaram and Tambaram. So far, except a few select ordinary services, all buses including the air-conditioned, have run via the Chennai bypass road.
While the SETC said the decision was aimed at ensuring ease for south suburban commuters who have to travel up to Perungalathur for boarding buses, a section of commuters rued that the move would increase travel time by 90 minutes for those boarding buses at the CMBT.
The higher travel time during festival season would force many to opt for private omnibuses, commuters said.
Official sources said that so far commuters from Guindy, Adyar, Taramani, St. Thomas Mount, Pallavaram, Madipakkam, Kovilambakkam, Thiruvanmiyur and Thuraipakkam faced hardships in boarding SETC buses at Perungalathur owing to shortage of MTC buses and heavy traffic during rush hour.
Similarly, during the return journey, commuters from Tiruchy and Madurai get down at Perungalathur and board MTC bus or take cab to reach their destinations in suburban areas.
V Baskaran, Managing Director, SETC, said, "From June, ordinary services are operated via inner ring road and GST road during non-rush hour. Henceforth, all buses will be diverted via Ashok Pillar and Tambaram. The southern suburban areas are densely populated and the decision was taken only for the benefit of commuters.
Given that the bridge construction works at Koyambedu, Pallavaram and Vandalur have been delayed for 12 months and are yet to be completed, regular travellers from northern parts of Chennai pointed out that the move would only increase the traffic congestion and thereby the travel time.
"Both GST and inner ring road witness huge vehicular pile-up during rush hour. Adding over 1,000 buses would only increase the vehicular traffic, forcing the commuters to opt for private omnibuses," said S Sankaran of Anna Nagar, a bus enthusiast.
A few SETC drivers and conductors said though the move increased the ticket revenue, the travel time increased by two hours. "If the buses are diverted after completion of on-going bridge works, it will benefit both commuters and workers."
Factfile:
1. On June 20, SETC diverted select ordinary services via inner ring road and GST instead of bypass road during non-rush hour
2. From Sunday onwards, all buses operated via Chennai-Tiruchy NH were diverted via Vadapalani, Pallavaram and Tambaram
3. SETC operates AC sleeper, AC seater and non-AC sleeper buses
4. South suburban commuters travel upto Perungalathur to board buses
5. Flyovers being constructed at Koyambedu, Pallavaram and Vandalur
6. GST and inner ring road witness traffic snarls during rush hour
7. Travel time of SETC buses has increased by 90 to 120 minutes
8. A section commuters say the move is aimed to force the commuters to opt for omnibuses
9. SETC operates 1,175 buses in 685 routes
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