CHENNAI: The decision to shift Andhra Pradesh-bound buses from Koyambedu bus terminus to Madhavaram Mofussil Bus terminus (MMBT) without adequate preparation has proved costly for commuters.
Commuters who are going to Tirupati and Srikalahasthi are forced to spend more than the bus fare for cabs and autos to travel to and from MMBT, as Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) is yet to expand bus services to other parts of the city.
It is learnt that MTC which has already been facing flak from commuters over poorly-maintained buses is unable to provide last mile connectivity from MMBT due to shortage of buses.
“Route number 114 is a cut service from CMBT to Madhavaram. In addition, 121 F (Madhavaram - Vandalur) bus route too operates via Madhavaram bypass. As of now, no new buses could be added from MMBT immediately as there are no additional spare buses,” a highly placed official told Express.
According to official records, more than 70 per cent of MTC buses are over-aged. Bus services on many routes were trimmed in the last one year after many vehicles became inoperable.
The corporation, which initially had plans to split bus services proportionately between CMBT and MMBT, dropped the proposal later fearing loss of commuter patronage. As per the plan, MTC had proposed 37 new services from MMBT to Tiruvanmiyur, Adyar, Tambaram, Guindy, Velachery, Poonamallee, Sholinganallur and Kelambakkam.
“After bus fares were hiked in January this year, commuter patronage fell from 48 lakhs to 36 lakhs a day. Share auto fare hike resulted in increase in commuter patronage by 40,000 a day in the last 30 days. So, existing bus services from CMBT to other parts of city could not be shifted to MMBT,” the official said.
“We expect new buses for MTC in another two weeks. Bus services from MMBT may get expanded by the first or second week of November.”
Besides, commuters rued that inadequate plans in shifting the buses has put them in great hardship. K Nanthan of Mylapore, who travelled to Tirupati on Friday, said bus services to CMBT from MMBT should be increased at the earliest.
“We reached MMBT at 9 pm. As there was no bus, we had to book a private cab, which cost Rs 300 for two persons. The autos also demand Rs 150 to CMBT. The services to Koyambedu should be increased during evening hours,” he said.
On October 10, MMBT was inaugurated and over 600 buses operated from Chennai to many parts of AP.