CHENNAI: Air-conditioned buses were introduced in the city in 2008 to ensure comfortable journey for commuters who can afford them. And in 2017, nine years down the line, one would expect the services to have improved and the number of buses and services increased.
Instead, the number of air-conditioned buses plying on the roads of this metropolis has come down drastically, thanks to mismanagement and lack of maintenance of buses by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC). And if remedial measures are not taken by the MTC on a war footing, curtains might come down on AC bus services very soon.
Out of the 100 buses that were plying on the roads a couple of years ago, 60 have been taken off service as of April 30, 2017 leaving only 40 air-conditioned buses on the roads. And people are literally feeling the heat as the mercury soars to nearly 40 degree Celsius almost every day.
Commuters complain that the 40 buses that are currently operational also have maintenance issues. Frequency of AC bus services from Broadway, Velachery, Tambaram, Adyar and Guindy to several parts of the city has been drastically reduced and this has left commuters high and dry this summer.
“The frequency was reduced and there is less number of AC buses in the city. But even the buses that are plying are ill maintained. We pay high fares for a comfortable journey in this heat, but there is not much of difference in AC buses when compared to the ordinary ones with foul odour being an added discomfort,” Pratibha V, a regular commuter on the Tambaram-Velachery route, told Deccan Chronicle.
While commuters blame the MTC, the corporation shifts the blame to lack of funds. “There were around 100 AC buses functioning since 7 years after being bought in 2008, and only 40 of them are being operated which are fairly maintained. MTC is not being provided with funds by the Government for the maintenance of buses, so we have decided to take down the service,” the senior MTC official said.
S. Indu, regular commuter on Tambaram-Thiruvanmiyur route, says that AC buses can prove fatal, as digital display turns red saying ‘engine failure’.
“The engine failure delays our travel as drivers then stop it twice or thrice to fill water. It can even have serious consequences like major accidents or breakdown,” she added.
