Plans to activate new bus stand in Virudhunagar

Private bus operators have been apprised of this arrangement

A few passengers boarding the lone government bus at the new bus stand inVirudhunagar. File Photo

Passengers bound for Virudhunagar have been at the mercy of crew of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses – both bypass riders and non-bypass riders – attached to the Madurai and Tirunelveli divisions for long.

The four-laning of the bypass road has become convenient for the bus crew to skip the town. The situation is worse at night.

Though the new bus stand was inaugurated on May 3, 1992 to ease the pressure on the old bus stand and decongest roads, it was never fully utilised.

Efforts were made to accommodate long-distance buses in the new bus stand, and town buses connecting nearby villages and buses plying to Rajapalayam and Srivilliputtur in the old bus stand.

Former Collector K. Balaji took steps to ensure that all buses crossing Virudhunagar entered the new bus stand. But such measures were only short-lived, mainly because of the bad road condition and the tendency of many people to board buses near MGR statue or at Aathu Paalam, avoiding the new bus stand.

Following numerous petitions, Collector T.N. Hariharan convened a meeting at the Collectorate on Friday to discuss the issue with Regional Transport Officer Karuppasamy and TNSTC Deputy Manager–Commercial (Virudhunagar region) P. Arunachalam.

It was decided at the meeting that buses going from Madurai to Sivakasi, should go through Meenambigai Bungalow, Aathu Paalam, MGR statue, new bus stand, MGR Road and Sivakasi road bridge.

Buses proceeding from Madurai to Tirunelveli should go through Meenambigai Bungalow, Aathu Paalam, MGR statue, new bus stand, MGR Road and Bypass Road.

Madurai-bound buses from Tirunelveli, Nagercoil and Kanyakumari should take the MGR Road to reach new bus stand, and again the MGR Road and Bypass Road route.

Buses proceeding from Kovilpatti to Madurai should go through Sivakasi road bridge, Aathu Paalam, MGR statue, new bus stand, MGR Road and Bypass Road.

Aruppukottai and Rajapalayam-bound buses should touch MGR statue, old bus stand, new bus stand and take the MGR Road. Buses coming from Thirumangalam should go through Meenambigai Bungalow, Aathu Paalam and new bus stand.

These proposals will be implemented in a week. These routes will be made one-way. Private bus operators have been apprised of this arrangement, say officials.

Mr.Hariharan told The Hindu that efforts would be made to utilise both the bus stands, and these measures would ensure that the new bus stand was fully utilised and all buses entered the town.

TNSTC Deputy Manager–Commercial (Tirunelveli Divison) J. Titus told The Hindu that all drivers attached to the division had been instructed to go through the new bus stand.