The Traffic and Transportation Forum has written to the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) seeking an increase in the number of bus services in the Nanganallur-Pazhavanthangal region. Commuters from localities in this region find it difficult to commute to other parts of the city owing to the poor frequency of MTC services there.
In its petition, the Forum has requested MTC to divert route number 540 (Kancheepuram –T. Nagar) towards Velachery Mass Rapid Transit Systems (MRTS) or Thiruvanmiyur Bus Terminus from Kathipara Grade Separator and Inner Ring Road. Diversion is also sought for 70 (CMBT – Tambaram) services from Chennai Metro Rail Limited, Alandur, through St. Thomas Mount Police Station, Amman Temple, Police Quarters Road, Alandur Court, Cement Road Signal to Tambaram.
Re-routing 590 (CMBT – Semmancherry) services from Kathipara grade separator to Vijay Nagar, via Inner Ring Road and Velachery MRTS has also been requested in the petition.
Pleas for operating 21G (Broadway – Tambaram) services through Cement Road, Inner Ring Road, MRTS, Velachery Vijay Nagar Junction and Halda; and 500J (Velachery to Chengalpet) through Inner Ring Road, Cement Road and the Airport have been made. Moreover, the Forum has asked for new services to Keezhkatalai, Oragadam, Poonamallee, Uthandi CMBT, Tambaram and Thiruvanmiyur via Pazhavanthangal Subway, Madipakkam Junction and Velachery MRTS.
Commuters underscored the need for the introduction of mini-bus services from Nanganallur to Pazhavanthangal railway station.
“Commuters are forced to walk to reach the railway station. Taking advantage of the situation, auto drivers fleece the commuters,” S. Ramesh, a commuter, lamented.
“MTC could earn more revenue by operating bus services between Thillai Ganga Nagar and Anjaneyar temple. It is unfortunate that while several representations were made for new services, even the existing services have been stopped,” a commuter said.
Also, connectivity to Vadapalani, Porur, Koyambedu and High Court is poor, the commuter added. The implementation of one-way traffic through Chidambaram Stores compounded the woes of the commuters as they had to take a long route to board buses from Independence Day Park. Requests were made to introduce mini-bus services from Asar Ghana to Nanganallur Anjaneyar temple, as people throng the temple in large numbers on Saturdays.
