Chennai: It has been a long time since the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) proposed constructing a bus terminus at Kilambakkam near Vandalur for operating south-bound government mofussil buses. A project was sanctioned to decongest the Chennai mofussil bus terminus, now renamed ‘Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Bus Stand’ which records a lakh of footfalls per day. However, even after nearly seven years, it has not taken off.
Sources said the bus stand would be able to accommodate over 250 buses regularly. Further, the terminus has the facility to park around 300 spare buses on the premises. Meanwhile, in order to ferry passengers to the bus terminus, the MTC asked for separate bus stands. “Let construction work be over and we will decide the operation of MTC buses to Kilambakkam,” said an MTC official. Since southbound buses have good patronage, buses will be operated based on the response, the official added.
Activists have urged officials concerned to accelerate work. Daniel Robinson, programme manager, Chennai City Connect, said, “It is a welcome move and will pave the way for commuters to take the short route once works are completed.” When contacted by Deccan Chronicle, a senior CMDA official admitted the delay. “Right from the beginning, we faced hurdles like land acquisition and clearance certificates from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). However, we have overcome those and prepared a blueprint, after which we floated the tender. Construction work will soon be undertaken.” It may be noted that Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, who is also chairman of CMDA, visited the site of Kilambakkam bus terminus and held enquiries with officials last April.
New mofussil bus terminus in Madhavaram opened to public
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami inaugurated a new mofussil bus terminal at Madhavaram, which will be used by north-bound buses, particularly to Andhra Pradesh towns bordering Tamil Nadu.
According to a press release issued by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) said that the mofussil bus stand at Madhavaram would serve north-bound buses, especially to nearby Tiruvallur district, besides Tirupati, Kalahasthi and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.
Built at an estimated '95 crore by the CMDA, it has been designed with various amenities including feeding rooms for lactating mothers and has parking lots with a capacity of 1,700 two-wheelers and 72 four-wheelers, the release said.
A CMDA official said that the cost for constructing the bus terminus in the beginning was worked out at '32 crore. Later, the cost was revised in 2016 to '94.16 crore for constructing this intercity bus terminus. Meanwhile, MTC is considering more buses to Madhavaram bus terminus. “We are discussing increasing the bus service to new bus terminus to carry and take passengers to terminus and Koyambedu,” said an MTC official.
They earlier asked the CMDA to allot separate portion for parking MTC buses, however, the request was turned down. The bus terminus can accommodate as many as 100 buses simultaneously. Besides TNSTC and APRSTC, MTC buses will also be allowed to operate from Madhavaram and around 50 buses can be parked on the first floor, the official noted.The new terminus is expected to decongest Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus, as north-bound passengers should go for new terminus to take buses.
