Chennai, May 18:
The All Omni Bus Owners Association has appealed to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to reconsider operating government and southern district bus services from the Koyambedu Bus Terminus, citing passenger convenience and accessibility concerns.
In a statement issued on Sunday, association president A. Anbalagan said the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) at Kilambakkam, which was developed to ease congestion and reduce pollution within Chennai, has not delivered the expected benefits for commuters travelling to southern districts.
He pointed out that passengers are now compelled to rely on multiple modes of transport, including private vehicles and additional Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses, to reach Kilambakkam. This, he argued, has increased traffic congestion and pollution rather than reducing it.
Anbalagan further stated that while the Kilambakkam terminus has benefitted residents in its vicinity, it has failed to adequately serve commuters from central and north Chennai.
The absence of seamless connectivity through metro rail and suburban train networks has led many passengers to depend on private cars and two-wheelers, worsening road congestion.
The association also alleged that the decision to shift services to Kilambakkam was taken without comprehensive traffic studies, passenger surveys, or economic impact assessments.
Highlighting the advantages of Koyambedu, he noted that the terminus is centrally located and well connected through metro rail and city bus services, making it easily accessible for passengers across Chennai. He added that the ongoing Chennai Port–Maduravoyal Elevated Expressway is expected to further ease congestion in the Koyambedu region upon completion.
Citing operational data, Anbalagan said that more than 10,000 buses operate daily within the city for schools, colleges, industries, and IT firms, while only around 3,000 intercity buses run to outstation destinations. He argued that outstation buses alone should not be blamed for Chennai’s traffic congestion.
Referring to peak travel periods such as Deepavali and Pongal, he claimed that the government itself had previously advised omni buses to avoid entering Kilambakkam due to space constraints, indicating limitations in infrastructure capacity at the new terminus.
The association has urged the state government to restore bus operations from Koyambedu in the interest of over one crore passengers who travel daily between Chennai and southern districts.