Over 20,000 Special Buses to Operate Across Tamil Nadu for Diwali Festival
In view of the upcoming Diwali festival, the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has announced that special bus services will be operated across the state for four days starting today to accommodate the festive rush.
Along with the 2,092 regular buses operated from Chennai, an additional 760 special buses will be deployed from the city, and 565 special buses will be operated from various districts across Tamil Nadu.
Every year, a large number of people from different districts living in Chennai for reasons such as education, employment, business, and industry travel to their hometowns to celebrate major festivals like Diwali and Pongal. This year, with Diwali falling on October 20, thousands have already begun their journey using government buses, trains, and private omni buses.
In total, the state government has planned to operate 20,378 special buses to manage the high volume of festive travelers.
Advance Bookings See Strong Response
Bookings for government bus services for Diwali began three months in advance, and the response has been overwhelming. So far, 1,26,500 passengers have reserved seats to travel to their hometowns for the festival.
- 16,000 passengers have booked for Thursday, October 16
- 51,500 passengers for Friday, October 17
- 47,500 passengers for Saturday, October 18
- 11,500 passengers for Sunday, October 19
Smooth Travel Arrangements
The TNSTC has assured that adequate arrangements have been made at key departure points, including the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) in Kilambakkam, to ensure smooth boarding and hassle-free travel for passengers.
Officials have also advised passengers to arrive early at bus terminals and follow traffic and crowd management instructions for a comfortable and safe Diwali journey.
