The journey from Velachery to Pallavaram always seems longer than it is, especially for senior citizens. One has to board three buses to commute between these localities.
Commuters have to board 51 (Velachery-Tambaram West) or 5A (T. Nagar-Tambaram West) at Vijaya Nagar Terminus Bus Stop, get down at Dr. Kamakshi Memorial Hospital, then board 91 (Thiruvanmiyur-Tambaram) or 91G (Thiruvanmiyur to Guduvancherry) or 91V (Thiruvanmiyur-Vandalur Zoo) and get down at Chromepet. There, they have to climb the foot-over-bridge connecting the eastern and western sides of Grand Southern Trunk (G.S.T.) Road and board a bus to Pallavaram from the western side.
“There is a cut service 91 (Thiruvanmiyur-Pallavaram), but services on this route number are few. Route numbers 500J (Velachery-Chengalpattu) and 21J (Velachery-Guduvancherry), via Poondi Bazar, Madras Export Processing Zone and West Tambaram, are operated regularly. Similarly, having a few cut services up to Pallavaram, especially during rush hour, will be of great help to commuters,” says K. Kamakshi, a commuter.
A few commuters board 66K (Poonamallee-Keezhkatalai) from Pallavaram, get down at Eechangadu and board 91 series and 51 or 5A to go to Velachery. A few get down at Keezhkatalai, board M1 (Thiruvanmiyur-Keezhkatalai) to reach Velachery.
“I work in a private company in Pallavaram and live in Velachery. Previously, I used to walk nearly one kilometre from my office to Ponds Flyover bus stop and board a couple of buses to go home. After sunset, the staircases of the flyover staircases are used by drunks anti-social elements. So, I am forced to go to Keezhkatalai and take another bus to reach home. Because of this detour, I spend more time and money in travelling,” says A. Mark Thomas, a commuter. “The Metropolitan Transport Corporation should introduce route number services connecting Velachery and Pallavaram and must increase the frequency of M1P (Thiruvanmiyur-Pozhichalur) via Velachery, Keelkattalai, Pallavaram and Pammal,” commuters point out.
