Chennai Operates 9,571 Buses for Ayudha Puja Holidays; 4.15 Lakh Passengers Travel in Three Days

 

A total of 9,571 buses were operated from Chennai over the three-day period from October 15 to October 17, 2026, to accommodate the increased passenger demand during the consecutive Ayudha Puja holidays. These services included regular daily buses and special services operated by State Transport Corporations and private operators.

Special buses were operated from the following five locations in Chennai to facilitate passenger travel during the festive period:

• Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT), Kilambakkam

• Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G.R. Bus Terminus, Koyambedu

• Madhavaram New Bus Terminus

• CMDA Climate Park Temporary Bus Terminus

• Maraimalai Nagar Temporary Bus Terminus

9,571 Buses Operated Over Three Days

Between October 15 and October 17, up to midnight on October 17, a total of 9,571 buses were operated. These comprised 6,573 regular daily services and 2,998 special services. Of the special services, 2,528 were operated by State Transport Corporations and 470 by private operators.

Daily Bus Operations and Passenger Details

On October 15, 2026, a total of 2,546 buses were operated, comprising 2,191 regular services and 355 special buses. These services carried approximately 1.15 lakh passengers.

By midnight on October 16, a total of 3,346 buses had been operated, including 2,191 regular buses and 1,155 special services. These buses transported approximately 1.47 lakh passengers.

By midnight on October 17, another 3,679 buses had been operated, comprising 2,191 regular services and 1,488 special buses. Passenger numbers for the day reached approximately 1.53 lakh.

4.15 Lakh Passengers Travel During Festive Period

Overall, approximately 4.15 lakh passengers travelled by bus from Chennai over the three-day period. The additional services were arranged to manage the festive rush and provide convenient travel options for people heading to their hometowns and other destinations during the Ayudha Puja holidays.