Mofussil buses to terminate at Kilambakkam from tomorrow

Chennai: Starting Tuesday, all govt mofussil buses from the southern districts will terminate at Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) in Kilambakkam instead of Tambaram, following a directive aimed at easing congestion on Grand Southern Trunk Road.
While the govt has promised to deploy 100 additional MTC buses to improve connectivity between KCBT and key transit hubs in Chennai, passengers remain unconvinced, citing the inconsistency of MTC services. At present, the govt claims to operate 590 buses from KCBT.
"We often wait 15 to 20 minutes for a bus in the early hours when returning to Chennai after holidays, only to find overcrowded MTC buses. Those who can't afford to wait are forced to pay higher fares for autos or taxis to reach Tambaram," said B Ganesh, a resident-activist from Varadharajapuram. He also criticized the decision to reroute buses to Kilambakkam before completing the Kilambakkam railway station and pedestrian pathway connecting it to the terminus. The govt earlier promised to open the railway station by May.
The decision to divert mofussil buses to Kilambakkam is based on recommendations from Tambaram police to decongest GST Road.
At present, TNSTC buses halt in front of Tambaram railway station, blocking one or two lanes of the three-lane road, causing daily bottlenecks. The problem is worsened by autos encroaching on the left-most lanes. On the opposite side, govt buses are often forced to stop in the middle of the road to drop passengers, despite a designated bus bay.
By shifting mofussil bus operations to Kilambakkam, police expect smoother movement of MTC buses and local vehicles through the area, where traffic delays of 10 to 15 minutes have become routine.