Chennai, Jan 26: The Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT), inaugurated as an ambitious project by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Tamil Nadu government, has found itself in the midst of controversies since its inception. Located at Kilambakkam on the outskirts of Chennai, the terminus has been a subject of discontent, particularly among passengers traveling to the south of Tamil Nadu.Complaints from passengers include the lack of amenities at the terminus and longer travel distances, coupled with inadequate transport facilities to reach the newly inaugurated bus terminus. Despite being designed to accommodate an impressive 1.5 lakh passengers daily, the practical implementation has faced several challenges, leading to growing dissatisfaction among commuters.
In a recent development, omnibus associations have raised concerns and voiced their opposition against the state transport department’s decision. The government’s directive on Thursday mandated omnibuses to shift their operations from Koyambedu to Kilambakkam, signaling that Koyambedu would no longer be permitted for operations. This move has stirred discontent among the Omni Bus Owners Association, citing a lack of facilities at Kilambakkam as a significant hurdle for the smooth operation of buses.
According to the association, the shift to Kilambakkam is not feasible at the moment due to the inadequate infrastructure and facilities. They assert that omnibuses will continue to operate only from Koyambedu until the necessary amenities and operational support are established at Kilambakkam. Additionally, the association emphasized that omnibuses would only be directed to operate from Kilambakkam after the Metro and Suburban trains become operational in the area, highlighting the interdependency of transportation infrastructure.