In the wake of the proposal to shift the Vijayanagar bus terminus to Velachery railway station, commuters of southern suburbs want the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) to start operating bus services from the south side of the railway station. The commuters want MTC officials to divert some bus services that are now being operated till Vijayanagar bus terminus through the service road on the southern side of the Velachery flyover.
The Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) has become a big hit for a large number of commuters from suburbs including Madipakkam, Pallikaranai, Medavakkam and Keelkattalai. However to reach the Velachery railway station using the MTC buses, they have to take a long walk through the station road. Moreover, the vehicles starting from the Vijayanagar bus terminus are caught in traffic jams at the Vijayanagar traffic signal resulting in waste of time and fuel.
Southern Railway has improved passenger facilities on the south side of the Velachery railway station. Commuters say the operation of a few buses below the flyover on the south side would reduce traffic congestion at Vijayanagar. R. Santosh, a regular MRTS commuter from Pallikaranai, said at present share autos are operating from the south side of the station and if MTC terminates buses below the flyover it would be a big boon to hundreds of commuters. A senior official of the MTC, when asked about the option of operating buses from the south side of the railway station, said that the suggestion would be considered positively.
