Chennai, Sept 2:
Chennai is set to get 11 air-conditioned bus shelters at various locations, with the Greater Chennai Corporation partnering with private organisations through Corporate Social Responsibility funding to provide more comfortable waiting facilities for commuters.
The initiative is aimed at improving passenger amenities at busy bus stops and offering relief from Chennai’s heat and humidity. Companies and institutions supporting the project include Apollo Hospitals, Kauvery Hospital, Guru Nanak College, SIMS Hospital, Rohini Hotels, SRM Prime Hospital and Freyer International Logistics.
The proposed shelters will provide modern passenger facilities, including air-conditioned waiting areas, seating, CCTV surveillance, Wi-Fi, lighting and charging facilities. The project is being taken up through CSR contributions rather than relying entirely on civic funds.
Among the locations identified are important transport points and busy stretches in areas such as Teynampet, Mylapore, Vadapalani, Velachery, Guindy, Alandur and Egmore.
Apollo Hospitals is supporting shelters at locations including DMS on Anna Salai and Mylapore, while Kauvery Hospital is associated with a shelter on Jawaharlal Nehru Road in Vadapalani.
Guru Nanak College will support a shelter at the Vijayanagar bus terminus in Velachery. SIMS Hospital is supporting shelters near Vadapalani, while other corporate partners are associated with shelters at different locations across the city.
The shelters are expected to include facilities designed to improve accessibility and convenience for commuters, including ramps and passenger information systems.
The CSR-funded model is significant as it allows the Corporation to introduce improved passenger infrastructure without bearing the entire financial burden of constructing and maintaining the facilities.
The initiative comes at a time when Chennai is witnessing increasing demand for better public transport infrastructure. With thousands of passengers waiting at bus stops every day, particularly during peak hours, improved shelters are expected to make the waiting experience safer and more comfortable.
The Corporation is also exploring expansion of such modern bus shelters to more locations depending on passenger demand and availability of CSR support.
The 11 shelters are expected to serve as an important step towards upgrading Chennai’s basic public transport infrastructure and creating more commuter-friendly bus stops across the city.