COIMBATORE: Around 2,600 special buses have been introduced by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) to various districts in the state to clear the rush expected during the Deepavali festive season. The services which commenced from Thursday evening will continue until October 19.
Ahead of Deepavali, 2,695 special buses are being operated from Coimbatore to other districts and from other districts to Coimbatore by all TNSTC regional branches, including Coimbatore, said a senior official of the TNSTC, Coimbatore region.
He said that as many as 483 buses are being operated by TNSTC, Coimbatore region, alone.
"Special buses are operated from the Singanallur bus stand to Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, and other southern districts. Buses to Tiruchy, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Karaikudi, and Pudukkottai are operated from Sulur bus stand. Buses to Mettupalayam, Sathyamangalam, Salem, and Erode are operated from Gandhipuram Central Bus Stand. Buses to Ooty, Gudalur, etc are operated from the new bus stand at the Mettupalayam Road," he said.
"To avoid inconvenience while boarding buses at the bus stands, drivers have been instructed to display the route names on the LCD boards placed in front of the buses after entering the bus stand. Moreover, separate barricades will be set up at the bus stands to help passengers queue up and board the buses in an orderly manner," he added.
TNSTC staff has been deployed to regulate passengers at all the bus stands in the city.
An official from the Regional Transport Office at Central, Coimbatore, told TNIE, "Passengers facing any inconvenience or having queries can contact the number 94425-01920 released by the Coimbatore district administration.
All omni buses operating to other districts during the festival should pick up passengers only from the designated area at the Codissia Ground. Also owners of omni buses have been instructed not to collect exorbitant fares from passengers, the RTO official said.
So far, two complaints regarding overcharging have been received, and the owners have been warned.
Police personnel will be deployed at the bus stands for security purposes. The municipal corporation and the district administration have taken steps to ensure the availability of drinking water, clean toilets, and other facilities at the bus stands.
