SETC to operate long-distance A/C buses from Chengalpet

SETC to operate long-distance A/C buses from Chengalpet

Says It'll Be Easier To Take Local Trains

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:31.03.2021 

State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) will soon run A/C sleeper and semi-sleeper buses between Chengalpet and western and southern districts of Tamil Nadu. Long-distance buses from Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem or Tirunelveli usually drop off passengers at Perungalathur or Tambaram before reaching Koyambedu Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) through Chennai Bypass Road. The passengers then take local suburban trains to reach various transit points within city limits such as Guindy, Nungambakkam or Chetpet.

But those getting off at Perungalathur or Tambaram have to either take a footover-bridge (FoB) or pedestrian subway to reach the railway platforms. As these facilities are poorly maintained, without adequate lighting and safety, people often jaywalk across the national highway. This practice leads to road accidents.

To avoid all this and make inter-modal connectivity easier, SETC has proposed to drop off some passengers at Chengalpet town, from where the railway station is hardly 100 metres. So, people can easily board a local train after getting down from the buses, said a senior SETC official.

The fare charged would be similar to that collected at present from passengers getting down at Tambaram. "Right now, we have planned to operate one bus each to Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and other major cities, and it will be expanded based on public response. Though passenger comfort is our priority, this move will also reduce our operating cost," he added, referring to fee paid at Paranur toll plaza and 13-15 litres of diesel extra needed.

This decision has evoked mixed responses. Welcoming it, transportation activist R Rengachari said that this would reduce average commuting time by 45 to 60 minutes. Also, as local trains are not crowded during the time SETC buses arrive at Chengalpattu (between 6am and 8am), passengers will get to ride comfortably to their destinations, he said.

T K Pandian, who regularly travels in government buses, said that many TNSTC Villupuram buses already travel inside city limits on national highway stretches to skip toll plazas, thus increasing travel time. Seconding him, Mohammed Basha, a Chengalpet resident, said that this would congest the roads further.

SETC has proposed to drop off some passengers at Chengalpet town, from where the railway station is hardly 100m