In deference to public demand, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Erode, has plans to introduce three additional ‘Ero 100’ bus services. Patronage for the ‘point-to-point’ bus plying from the Erode Bus Stand to Gandhipuram Bus Stand in Coimbatore has been rising year after year over the last decade.
The bus that was named so for being operated from Erode to reach Coimbatore within the envisaged duration of 100 minutes has been in operation for nearly a decade. Thanks to the four-laning of the Salem-Cochin stretch, 'Ero 100' services are able to conform to the time limit. At the time of introduction, the bus used to take two and a half hours to reach the destination. The speciality of the bus is that there is no conductor. The tickets for 55 seats are issued by the driver prior to the journey
For long there were three services, and two additional services were introduced six months ago. On Fridays and Saturdays, a sixth service is operated.
Three additional buses would be deployed for 'Ero 100' services shortly, V. Krishnamoorthy, General Manager, TNSTC, Erode, said.
Though there are numerous trains crossing Erode and Coimbatore stations, and several private operators ply buses on this route, there is a niche segment for the ‘Ero 100’ buses.
The TNSTC intends to harness the public goodwill with its additional services.
