Following the introduction of mini bus service in the city and its suburbs, there are the inevitable complaints from certain residents that their areas have been left uncovered. They hope they demand is met during implementation of the second phase. “The residents of Chitlapakkam, especially Muthulakshmi Nagar, while welcoming the move to introduce small bus S3 via Chitlapakkam are disappointed that Chitlapakkam is not the originating or terminating place for this route,” says L. Sundararaman, president of Chitlapakkam Muthulakshmi Nagar Welfare Association. For more than a decade, Chitlapakkam had only route 52D plying here.
“We have been asking for a link between Chitlapakkam and Tambaram Sanatorium railway station as lakhs of people have migrated to Chitlapakkam in the last two decades. The newly introduced bus routes for Chitlapakkam should connect to Tambaram Sanatorium,” he added. A similar view was expressed by residents of Nanganallur.
“Though Nanganallur is a fast developing area of south Chennai, it does not have frequent bus service to others parts of the city. The Government should introduce small buses on the Palavanthangal - Nanganallur - Vaanuvaampet - Puzhudhivakkam - Velachery route, for the convenience of the public,” says G. Sathiyanarayanan, a resident of 40 Street, Nanganallur.
S. Muthulakshmi, a tannery worker, felt left out by the MTC. She says a route from Pallavaram to Tiruneermalai via Pammal and Nagalkeni would help thousands of industrial workers. She said the erstwhile Pallavan Transport Corporation was operating buses from Pallavaram to Chromepet on this route.
A route that has become a hit since its introduction is the Guindy-Velachery Railway Station. “The small bus from Guindy to Velachery MRTS via NGO Colony, Brindavan Nagar, Mahalakshmi Nagar and Inner Ring Road has got a good response, so much so that one cannot find overcrowded share-autos now. The mini bus on this route is jam-packed. We thank the government for having fulfilled a long demand of residents of this locality to connect both Velachery MRTS and Guindy Industrial Estate,” says R. Ganesan of Mohanapuri, Adambakkam.
Several commuters suggested that the routes should be made more prominent by erecting bus stops ‘indicators’ with timings, for which MTC could rope in traders associations and resident welfare organisations.
