Same numbers, but different routes
CHENNAI: Commuters in parts of North Chennai often get misguided with the buses operated on different routes with the same bus numbers. Particularly, people who live in and around Perambur, Periyar Nagar, Kumaran Nagar and Madhvaram are the worst affected.
The 29C was assigned to one of the vintage routes of Chennai city, which connects Perambur with Besant Nagar.
Four years ago, a few services of 29C were extended to Thiruvanmiyur, renumbered as 29C Extn. Later, the extended route was converted into regular service. However, the MTC has retained 29C for the Perambur-Thiruvanmiyur route as well.
Presently, about 50 services of buses bearing the 29C Extn run across the city on five different routes — Periyar Nagar-Besant Nagar, Mathur MMDA-Thiruvanmiyur, Madhavaram-Thiruvanmiyur, Srinivasa Nagar-Besant Nagar and Thiru.Vi.Ka Nagar-Thiruvanmiyur.
“I boarded the 29C Extn bus at Mylapore to go to Thiru.Vi.Ka Nagar. I was told that the bus was going to Periyar Nagar only after it reached Mandhaveli. So, I got down there and got another bus to reach my home,” said S Krishnan, a retired school teacher, who is also a regular bus commuter. Similarly, confusion is prevailing among the bus commuters who regularly board buses 38C, 29D, 29A Extn and 23C.
While a few buses with the number 29D run from Vivekananda House upto Moolakadai, some services run upto MMDA Mathur. Similarly, 38C bus has also two routes - Thiru Vi Ka Nagar - Anna Square and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar-V House.
The drivers and conductors say they are also frequently in confrontation with the commuters over the bus routes. Particularly, the 23C (Ayanavaram-Besant Nagar) bus gets commuters who want to go to Thiruvanmiyur every day. “At least a minimum of 10 commuters board at Besant Nagar-bound 23C bus to reach Thiruvanmiyur. We de-board them at the Adyar depot, even though we don’t have a stoppage,” said a conductor.
When contacted, MTC officials said that many routes were extended to nearby areas with the same numbers so as to cater for more commuters.
“We did not receive many complaints over the issues involving bus numbers. As for the 29C and 23C, changing the bus number suddenly on the highly demanded routes may lead to confusion among regular commuters. We will look into the issue,” said the official.
