The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) is planning to introduce the small bus service from the Chennai Central station or the Egmore station.
The buses will ferry people to the nearest bus stops and MRTS stations. “The buses will act as a connecting service. They will also touch the metro rail stations once the service starts,” said a transport official. The move is bound to come as a boon to the city residents and tourists who are fleeced by autorickshaw drivers.
Meanwhile, commuters feel that the service will be very helpful to senior citizens as the vehicles have low chassis.
“The main problem of haggling with autorickshaw drivers for travelling short distance will be solved,” said K. S. Gopalakrishnan, former zonal railway users’ consultative committee member.
Other commuters suggest that the small buses should connect all major shopping malls, vegetable markets and other shopping places nearby. “This will help the weekend shoppers, the aged and the home-makers to travel without relying on autorickshaws,” said M. Kumaravelu, a senior citizen living in R.A.Puram.
At present, 100 small buses are operated across the city and its suburbs.
A 100 more will hit the road in the next few months. Already the small buses ply near the MRTS stations and some suburban railway stations. “There has been good income from these routes. Hence, we are thinking about trying to connect the Chennai Central and Egmore too,” the official said.
