Commuters at Nanganallur-Pazhavanthangal localities face a tough time in commuting to other parts of the city as the stretch is hit by poor frequency of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) services.
“Mini-bus services or share-autos need to be introduced from Nanganallur to Pazhavanthangal railway station. Repeated representations in this regard to authorities concerned have fallen on deaf ears. Commuters are forced to walk to reach the railway station. Taking advantage of the situation, auto drivers leece the commuters,” S. Ranganathan, a commuter lamented.
At present, a mini-bus service, S12, from Asar Ghana to N.G.O. Colony is operated through M.G.R. Road, Nanganallur.
“MTC can expect a huge revenue from operating bus services between Thillai Ganga Nagar and Anjaneyar Temple route. It is unfortunate that while representations are made for new routes in and around Nanganallur and Pazhavanthangal, the services on existing routes have been reduced or stopped causing hardships to commuters,” a commuter said.
The implementation of one-way traffic through Chidambaram Stores for MTC services compounded the woes of the commuters as they had to walk a long distance to board buses from Independence Day Park, he added.
“52K (Keelkatalai to Broadway) route number through Nanganallur was operated in six buses including a cut service to Saidapet. Today, the route number operates only once in every four to five hours.”
Route numbers such as M70N (Nanganallur to CMBT) via Thillai Ganga Nagar, and Anjaneyar Temple, 170N (Keelkatalai to Perambur) via Moovarasampet and Pazhavanthangal have been stopped without any notice, the commuters said.
As there are no MTC buses, mini-bus services and share-autos from Asar Ghana, for a place three kilometers from Thillai Ganga Nagar and Anjaneyar Temple, auto-drivers charge Rs.100. From Anjaneyar Temple to Pazhavanthangal railway station, auto-drivers charge Rs. 40, for a distance of 1.2 km.
“A mini-bus service from Asar Ghana to Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple through Pazhavanthangal railway station, Market Road, Roja Medicals, Lakshmi Nagar, Nanganallur Post Office (VI Main Road) and Thillai Ganga Nagar Second Main Road should be introduced. From different parts of the city, people flock in large numbers on Saturday to the temple.
MTC should consider introducing another mini-bus service from Anjaneyar Temple to Guindy through Nanganallur Post Office, Vanuvampet and Keelkatalai to Guindy through Ullagaram and Vanuvampet,” commuters pointed out.
Another issue is MTC bus service connectivity through Nanganallur and Thillai Ganga Nagar Second Main Road to other parts of the city such as Vadapalani, Porur, Koyambedu and High Court is very poor. One has to come to Asar Ghana Bus Stop from Nanganallur and Thillai Ganga Nagar to commute to other areas in the city.
We are forced to wait for more than 20 minutes to board buses to Guindy and Saidapet during non-peak hours, commuters added. “M21G (Nanganallur to Broadway) is operated with less frequency. During rush hour (between 9-10.30 a.m.), we have only two options either 154B (Nanganallur-Poonamalle) and M152N (Nanganallur-Central),” they said.
“During rush hour, the frequency of M18C (Keezhkatalai-T. Nagar), 52 P (Moovarasampet-High Court), 52L (Nanganallur-High Court), 52 M (Nanganallur-T. Nagar) and M70N (Nanganallur-CMBT) through Thillai Ganga Nagar Second Main Road should be increased. At least one service in an hour should be extended up to Thiruverkadu or Poonamalle,” commuters requested. Commuters demanded mini-bus services from Asar Ghana to Velachery via Anjaneyar Temple and Vanuvampet and regular bus services from Nanganallur via Roja Medicals, Nanganallur First Main Road, Vanuvampet and Thillai Ganga Nagar Subway to CMBT, Ambattur Industrial Estate, T. Nagar and High Court.
Official sources in the MTC said a representation has been given to State Transport Minister V. Senthil Balaji, on behalf of commuters, by Alandur MLA V.N.P. Venkatraman, to introduce more mini-bus services connecting Nanganallur and Pazhavanthangal, extend existing bus routes and introduce more bus services on new routes. The Minister has promised the MLA to do everything that would benefit the commuters.
