TN runs 11,197 buses, including 6,815 specials, for post-Deepavali rush

Chennai, Nov 9:

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has commenced operating 11,197 buses, including 6,815 special services, across Monday and Tuesday to facilitate the heavy influx of passengers returning to Chennai and other urban centers following Deepavali celebrations.

According to transport authorities, the massive two-day return transit plan combines the routine scheduled operation of 4,382 regular buses with 6,815 special buses, which includes 1,241 private contract carriages requisitioned by the department. The arrangements are aimed at ensuring seamless transit for lakhs of commuters returning from southern, western, and delta districts to workplaces and schools across the Chennai metropolitan area.

To prevent bottlenecks on arterial corridors, arrivals into Chennai are being routed through decentralized hubs, primarily the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) at Kilambakkam, Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. MGR Bus Terminus at Koyambedu, and Madhavaram New Bus Terminus.

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has deployed round-the-clock feeder shuttle fleets connecting these inter-district terminals with suburban railway hubs, including Tambaram and Guduvanchery, as well as Chennai Metro stations. Help desks and 24-hour monitoring cells have been made operational at Kilambakkam, while passengers can access assistance via toll-free numbers 149 and 94450 14436.

To further absorb the festive return volume, Southern Railway has announced unreserved special train services on Monday night. These include an unreserved special from Tiruchy departing at 10.45 pm to Chennai Egmore, and another service departing Manamadurai at 10 pm bound for Tambaram. Enforcement squads from the transport department and regional transport offices continue surveillance along state toll plazas to curb ticket overcharging by private omnibus operators.