The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : New regulations put confusion in top gear near Egmore station

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Saturday, Oct 11, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

New regulations put confusion in top gear near Egmore station

R.Srikanth

Several MTC commuters complain that they often take wrong buses

Photo: M. Vedhan

One of the two bus stops on Gandhi Irwin Road. —

CHENNAI: With the Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses on as many as six routes stopping near the Egmore Railway Station on the same side of Gandhi Irwin Road, commuters are confused over where the bus is headed for.

Their confusion comes in the wake of the traffic regulations introduced on a few important roads in Egmore on Saturday. Though the MTC has set up two stops near the station to help commuters, they complain that often many of them take the wrong bus.

In line with the regulations, changes were made in the routes of the buses. Buses on routes 22, 23C, 27D, M23C, 29A and 40A bound for Poonamallee High Road after reaching Harris Road (Adithanar Salai) now take the Police Commissioner Office Road, Udipi Signal and turn right to Gandhi Irwin Road and proceed on Gandhi Irwin Bridge to reach Poonamallee High Road. A bus stop has been provided for these buses opposite the CMDA Office on Gandhi Irwin Road.

In the return direction, there, however, is no change in their routes. From Poonamallee High Road, they come on Dr.Nair Bridge and at Udipi Signal turn left to Gandhi Irwin Road, and take Whannels Road to reach Pantheon Road.

Such buses continue to stop near the Egmore Railway Station as they did, prior to the regulation.

Despite the distance between the two stops on Gandhi Irwin Road, commuters mistake an approaching bus for one bound for their destination.

It is not uncommon to find some of the commuters running after a wrong bus, despite MTC posting its personnel at the bus stops.

V.S. Krishna, who takes 23C from Anna Salai to reach the railway station, said the new traffic arrangements had led to confusion.

With the 23C buses bound for both Ayanavaram and Besant Nagar/Thiruvanmiyur stopping on the same side of Gandhi Irwin Road, it is proving to be difficult for the commuters.

On Thursday, even the driver of a bus on 23C bound for Ayanavaram had the route confusion. He sought the help of the passengers with regard to the route.

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