In preparation for the festive season of Deepavali, the Tamil Nadu state transport department has taken measures to provide extensive bus services across the state. More than 17,000 buses will be in operation from November 9 to 11 and between November 13 and 15, ensuring convenient travel for the public during this celebratory period.
At a meeting chaired by Transport Minister SS Sivasankar and attended by Transport Secretary Phanindra Reddy, top department officials, and senior police officers, plans were finalized to run a substantial number of buses. The department will operate 10,975 buses from November 9 to 11, comprising 4,675 buses from Chennai and 5,920 buses from various districts.
To facilitate the return journeys post-festival, an additional 3,167 buses will operate to Chennai from November 13 to 15, along with 3,825 special buses in other districts. These special services will operate from multiple locations in Chennai, including Madhavaram new bus stand, KK Nagar MTC bus stand, Tambaram Aringar Anna bus stand (MEPZ), Tambaram railway station bus stop, Poonamalle bypass bus stop, and Koyambedu MGR bus terminus.
To streamline boarding, local government buses will operate from Koyambedu to Tambaram and Perungalathur via specific routes, enabling efficient travel. The department advises private vehicle users to avoid the Tambaram-Perungalathur route, suggesting alternative routes for smoother travel during this period.
For ease of ticket reservation, 10 counters have been set up at the Koyambedu bus stand and one at the MEPZ bus stand. Additionally, passengers can book tickets through the TNSTC official website. Minister Sivasankar noted that around 68,000 people have already booked tickets for government buses.
For passenger convenience and to address concerns, 24×7 helpline numbers have been established. Additionally, passengers can report excess fare charges by private operators through the provided toll-free numbers.
In a positive development, private omnibus operators have agreed to reduce maximum fares by 5% compared to last year. These revised fares will apply to various destinations, bringing down costs for passengers traveling by AC sleepers to Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchy, and Thanjavur.
In light of these efforts by the transport department and private operators, a coordinated and efficient travel experience is anticipated for the public during the festive period of Deepavali.