Following complaints from commuters pertaining to inadequate bus bays on city roads, the Chennai Corporation has decided to acquire land to create new bus bays.
Land belonging to the forest department, research institutions and Open Space Reserve (OSR) will be used by the Corporation for commissioning the bus bays, shortly.
The bus stop near the junction of Five Furlong Road and Velachery Main Road, for instance, requires a bus bay to ease traffic congestion in the area.
“Commuters standing on the road near bus stops without bays are posing a risk to motorists. Many residents have therefore requested new bus bays,” said S. Saravanan, a councillor of Velachery.
The Corporation has decided to construct bus bays on both sides of the road by obtaining land from the forest department. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has requested the civic body to commission another additional bus stop with a bay on the road.
The MTC has also requested the civic body for OSR land near Phoenix Mall to develop a bus bay that will help ease traffic congestion in the neighbourhood.
The civic body will also develop bus bays near the Adyar bus depot. Zonal level officials have identified space for the bays but their construction will require the demolition of three shops.
Near the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), due to a narrow footpath, a number of commuters wait for buses standing on the road, blocking traffic. So the Corporation has decided to request land from CLRI for the bus bay. A number of such institutions will have to part with land for bus bays to be created in the city, an official said.
Some of the bays will be developed on OSR lands after Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority gives concurrence.
