Covid-19: Tamil Nadu govt operates additional buses to clear extra rush ahead of lockdown

TNN | Mar 23, 2020, 07.25 PM IST

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu transport minister M R Vijayabaskar on Monday announced that 100 Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses are being diverted on mofussil routes (inter-district trips) to clear extra rush of passengers after the government announced that a lockdown would be in place starting Tuesday evening to combat spread of Covid-19.

These buses were operated from Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT), Koyambedu, from Monday evening to clear extra rush. As all trains were cancelled, more people crowded at CMBT.

MTC buses, which usually ply only in the Chennai, were diverted to Trichy, Villupuram, Thiruvanamalai and other districts.

Also, private omnibus operators were told to operate all available buses from Chennai to other TN districts on Monday, Vijayabaskar told reporters. Earlier, private operators informed government they were not willing to run buses till March 31. But they have now responded to the government's request and started transporting people.

Koyambedu was chaotic till late evening as all buses were packed and many people were unable to find a bus even if they were willing to stand and travel.

There was no way one could think about social distancing in such a situation, said passengers. It was all about getting home.