The residents of Adambakkam and St. Thomas Mount are annoyed over non-introduction of new route numbers at the Adambakkam bus terminus.
At present, only M14 (NGO Colony-Medavakkam Koot Road) plies from the terminus. At St. Thomas Mount railway station, it is common to see M14 every five minutes with a different name board — Balaji Nagar to Saidapet, NGO Colony-Medavakkam Koot Road and Saidapet to Medavakkam Koot Road — or a 14M service (Saidapet to Medavakkam Koot Road).
Other route numbers operating through the railway station includes M11 (East Tambaram to Saidapet) and 18D (Keelkattalai to Broadway).
“The bus terminus started functioning a year ago. But new routes haven’t been introduced from the terminus, except for M14,” R. Anand, a commuter said.
Commuters pointed out that route numbers connecting Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus, Mylapore, Guduvancherry, Anna Square, Poonamalle and Ambattur, through Southern Sector Inner Ring Road, Vanuvampet, Keelkattalai and Grand Southern Trunk Road should be introduced from the terminus.
“We are forced to go to the Guindy Industrial Estate bus stop, the M.K.N. Road bus stop or the Race Course Road bus stop every time to board buses heading to these destinations. Also, the route numbers 18D and M11 should be made more frequent, ” R. Sandhya and S. Sulochana, commuters, said.
Lack of bus services seems to have increased footboard travel, especially during rush hour. Due to lack of bus services, autorickshaw drivers in Adambakkam and St. Thomas Mount operate shuttle services, like share-autos, between important junctions.
“I take passengers from Saidapet to Vanuvampet or Keelkattalai during rush hour,” said P. Ramasamy, a driver at St. Thomas Mount.
I charge anywhere between Rs.20 and Rs. 30 per passenger. This is beneficial for both the passengers as well as the drivers,” he added.
