Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Transport Department will operate 3,565 special buses to Kilambakkam on Monday and Tuesday to manage the heavy return of passengers to Chennai after the Vinayaka Chaturthi holidays.
Of these, 2,240 buses will run on September 14 and 1,325 on September 15. In addition, 160 special services will terminate at Madhavaram, while 370 buses travelling along the East Coast Road will be operated to Koyambedu.
The special arrangements follow a movement of people out of Chennai during the festival break. Around 2.31 lakh passengers travelled from the city to destinations across Tamil Nadu in buses on September 11 and 12.
Transport officials expect the return rush to peak on Monday and Tuesday, with passengers arriving from Tiruchy, Madurai, Dindigul, Salem, Krishnagiri, Hosur, Vellore, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi and several other towns.
Officials stationed at bus terminals have been directed to monitor crowds and introduce more services wherever demand rises. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation normally operates 508 buses on 47 routes from Kilambakkam, completing 2,107 trips. It also runs 130 buses on nine routes passing through the terminal, accounting for another 1,362 trips.
To strengthen connectivity during the return rush, 50 additional MTC buses will make 400 trips on Monday evening and night.
A further 150 trips will be operated from the early hours of Tuesday. Extra city buses will also be stationed at Central, Egmore and Tambaram railway stations to help passengers arriving by train reach parts of Chennai. Services on alternative routes will be increased in locations recording high demand.
Meanwhile, the Transport Commissionerate has stepped up inspections of the omnibuses across Tamil Nadu following complaints of excessive fares ahead of the festival. Officials inspected 3,512 buses over three days and detected violations in 639 vehicles, leading to inspection reports, electronic challans and action against operators.
The enforcement drive resulted in compliance charges of Rs 14.39 lakh and fines of Rs 3.19 lakh.
Officials also collected Rs 27.58 lakh in taxes due to Tamil Nadu from omnibuses registered in other states. The department said that checks would continue to protect passengers and ensure operators followed fare and permit regulations during the holiday travel period.
(IANS)
