CHENNAI: The blueprint for the proposed Kilambakkam bus terminus near Vandalur for south-bound buses, does not have land for Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s maintenance yard, which could create operational difficulties in linking the terminus to the city, cautioned a top transport official.
As a large number of passengers from southern districts will begin or terminate their long-distance journey at Kilambakkam — about 40 km from Chennai city — round the clock, there would be substantial traffic to and from the city, pointed out the official.
At present, the transport corporation has depot facilities at Tambaram, which is quite far from the proposed Moffusil Bus Terminus Junction. City bus services usually start around 4.30 am. It will take more than an hour for MTC buses to reach the proposed bus terminus. This is likely to create hardship for passengers, affecting the plan to decentralise road transport infrastructure, and thus decongest the city.
Within the complex, the corporation has been allocated 9.91 acres for a bus terminus, but not for a depot or maintenance yard. Even the Traffic Analysis Report prepared by the consultant, which was submitted to the technical committee formed by the State government, does not mention this, sources added.
The MTC official told Express that a letter has been sent to Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to allocate five acres of additional land. But the CMDA seems to be caught in a bind, as the proposed terminus is coming up near an Archaeological Survey of India site, where land is difficult to find.
What has irked MTC officials is the preference given to private bus transport operators, who have been allocated land for operating buses. “These operators work with the only motive of profit. They don’t have scheduled routes or fares. CMDA should ensure MTC gets priority over them, as it has social obligation,” said a former planner.
Arguing that a depot is essential for MTC to function well from the proposed bus terminus, a transportation expert said the absence of such a facility is one of the contributing reasons for traffic snarls at Koyambedu. It is important that this should be provided in the Detailed Project Report itself, he said.
Move to decongest Koyambedu
CHENNAI: There are other suggestions, including one to convert the Chennai Contract Carriage Bus Terminus (CCCBT) at Koyambedu into a MTC bus depot to reduce traffic congestion at Koyambedu as part of the plan to move private buses to Kilambakkam and working out strategies to decongest Koyambedu.
Why MTC wants additional land