Commuters of Madipakkam and Kovilambakkam have for long lamented the poor frequency of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) services to their areas. What is adding to their worries is that the bus terminus on Eswaran Koil Street has been neglected and become a parking lot for private buses and vans.
Civic groups from various residential localities have been demanding that bus services to Madipakkam bus terminus should improve. Stagnation of rain water mixed with sewage around the terminus is an eyesore in the area.
MTC crew members also lament the lack of bus shelter, lighting and toilet facilities in this terminus.
Residents refuted the claims of MTC that more buses are operated from Madipakkam bus terminus. They pointed out that buses to T. Nagar (51M) and V. House (M45A) are only frequent services from the terminus.
R. Ramamurthi of Dr. Ambedkar Salai, underscored the need to introduce more bus routes originating from Madipakkam, as it connects several residential pockets up to Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road and Kovilambakkam.
S. Chidambaram of Sadhasivam Nagar, Madipakkam, noted that the bus service on route number 51E plying to Saidapet connecting three railway stations viz., Velachery, Guindy and Saidapet was withdrawn for reasons unknown.
“If the MTC increases their services from Madipakkam, it will reduce the misuse of the terminus as a private parking lot,” he said.
MTC sources said they are keen on improving bus services to every corner of the extended areas.
Regarding parking of private vehicles, action would be initiated soon with the help of police, they said.
