Chennai, Sept 3:
Tamil Nadu’s State Transport Corporations will operate additional special buses across the State to handle the expected passenger rush during Krishna Jayanti and the ensuing weekend holidays.
The special services have been planned for Thursday, Friday — Krishna Jayanti — Saturday and Sunday, with large numbers of people expected to travel from Chennai to their hometowns and return after the holiday weekend.
According to the announcement issued by the Managing Director of the State Express Transport Corporation, additional services will operate along with the regular bus schedules.
From Kilambakkam, special buses will be operated to destinations including Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Tiruppur.
The schedule includes 910 special buses on Thursday, 740 on Friday and 880 on Saturday from Kilambakkam.
From Koyambedu, special buses will operate towards Tiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Hosur and Bengaluru.
A total of 210 special buses are planned from Koyambedu on Thursday, followed by 115 each on Friday and Saturday.
Another 200 special buses will operate from Bengaluru, Tiruppur, Erode and Coimbatore to various destinations.
From Madhavaram, 95 special buses will be operated every day from Thursday to Saturday towards Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Vellore, Hosur and Puducherry.
Additional arrangements have also been made for passengers returning to Chennai and Bengaluru after the weekend.
As many as 805 special buses are planned from various destinations on Sunday, based on passenger demand.
Advance bookings have already indicated a substantial rush.
According to the transport department, 14,016 passengers had booked for Thursday, 8,688 for Friday, 6,459 for Saturday and 14,239 for Sunday at the time of the announcement.
The numbers are expected to increase.
Passengers undertaking long-distance journeys have therefore been advised to make advance reservations through the TNSTC website or mobile application to avoid congestion and uncertainty at bus terminals.
Officials have also been deployed at bus stations to monitor the operation of special services.
Transport authorities have urged passengers to make use of the additional services and plan their journeys in advance.