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Mini-buses likely on city roads soon

Updated - November 17, 2021 12:36 am IST

Published - October 24, 2011 01:24 am IST - CHENNAI:

Two hundred mini-buses may soon start plying on a number of narrow roads in the city's residential hubs where normal MTC buses cannot operate.

The proposal, originally announced in April 2010, seems to be finally taking shape with a feasibility study undertaken by Anna University being submitted to the State government recently. Though the mini-bus operation was supposed to begin within three months, the proposal saw repeated delays. The study was commissioned just a couple of months ago.

The study recommends nearly 100 routes along which such services can be introduced in a phased manner.

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A senior Anna University professor, involved with the study, said that the route identification study essentially mapped the coverage of the existing MTC bus routes on top of a population density layer. Any area with a sufficiently high number of residents and without a bus stop within half a kilometre needs a feeder service, he said.

Once the gaps in the existing public transport network were identified, field surveys were undertaken in each locality to identify possible routes along which short-wheel base buses with a capacity of 36 passengers (18 sitting + 18 standees) can operate. “Many areas even within the city are completely cut off from any form of public transport option. Neighbourhoods in Velachery, Nanaganallur, Maduravoyal and Ambattur immediately require feeder mini-bus services,” the professor said.

Owing to the lack of such options, he said, two-wheeler usage has begun to skyrocket in the suburbs when compared to the city.

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According to MTC's preliminary study done last year, Red Hills, Tiruvottiyur, Kelambakkam and Tambaram urgently require feeder mini-bus services. Of the 10 City Corporations which went to the polls recently, only Chennai does not permit operation of private mini-buses.

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