MTC’s longest route has very cheerful crew

Chennai: All professions have the­ir tough times, but more often than not, the intensity that these jobs have on offer is a bragging point among the employees. But in the case of an MTC crew, the intensity is there: only the bragging and even recognition seem to be absent.

This came to light whi­le on a journey in a bus that shook its way into the city through the gre­en and busy depot of Ta­mbaram. Tambaram to Thiruvotriyur is almost a 50-kilometre stretch which begins at one end of the city, snails thro­u­gh the heart of it and emerges at the other end.

This route is touted as the longest that the MTC has in the city. In the driver’s seat was Lokana­th­an assisted by conductor Selvaraj. They have been working on this particular route for the past seven years.

Driver Lokanathan’s dr­i­ving is as sturdy as his moustache. He wades through the traffic with dexterous manoeuvering of the wheel. Selvaraj has a genial smile and to­gether they seem to put all theories of abusive MTC crews to rest. Talk­ing of the route, Selvaraj says, “It is a tough one, the long distance takes a toll on our nerves, especially the traffic.

By the time we reach Mount Ro­ad, traffic movement is at snail’s pace.” When asked about why they did not choose to switch to another route gi­ven the grill, Selvaraj sa­ys, “We both get along ve­ry well and it seems better. We know the route well.”

Punishment posting is a custom in any government job; could this be one such? Selvaraj lau­ghs and says, “It is all in the mind. We have been working in the route for quite some time and find it comfortable. Of cour­se, there could be transfers if the crew err, but for us it is not so.”

There are 16 buses on route No. 1B, four of them are deluxe and the rest are express. Each of them makes four, two-way trips every day. Throughout the journey, there are a minimum 20 people on board. “The route is a busy one. I often use the bus, though I get down midway,” says M. Ajay, an office-goer.

The sea runs parallel to the road for almost 150 metres along this route. It is scenic, to say the least, but very soon the dusty roads of Thiru­vo­triyur take over and the journey comes to a close. It took nearly two hours to traverse the distance.

Lokanathan was seen heading to the restroom and Selvaraj moved ahead with a genial smile, asking us to travel again. In the hum and noise of the busy city, people seem to have forgotten these few ordinary men who have it tough, yet the going seems to be just fine.