Tondiarpet Gets New Bus Terminus After 40 Years: Modern Facility Opens on Ennore High Road

After nearly 40 years of waiting, residents of Tondiarpet, particularly those in Ward 38, now have a new bus terminus. The facility was inaugurated on Monday by Transport Minister A. Vijay Tamilan Parthiban and Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson at the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) bus terminus on Ennore High Road.

₹2.5-Crore Bus Terminus in Tondiarpet

The new bus terminus has been constructed by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) at a cost of ₹2.5 crore. Spread across 16,000 sq ft, the modern facility is expected to provide improved facilities for passengers, drivers and conductors.

The terminus includes:

 - Dedicated passenger waiting areas

 - Crew rest room for drivers and conductors

 - Nursing and lactation room

 - Separate restrooms for men and women

 - Accessible restroom facilities for persons with disabilities

12 Buses Operate 122 Daily Trips

Currently, 12 buses operate 122 daily trips from the new terminus, serving around 18,000 residents in the surrounding areas.

The opening of the facility provides much-needed relief to transport staff and passengers who had faced a lack of basic infrastructure for several years.

Demand to Restore 32 Bus Services

Tondiarpet Zone Chairman Nethaji U. Ganesan welcomed the opening of the new terminus and urged transport authorities to restore previously suspended bus routes.

He requested the revival of 32 bus services connecting Tondiarpet with major destinations including Koyambedu, Thiruvanmiyur, Adyar, Tambaram, Anna Square and Vadapalani.

The proposed restoration would improve public transport connectivity for residents of several localities, including Nedunchezhian Nagar, Nethaji Nagar and Rajasekaran Nagar.

Better Facilities for Drivers and Conductors

Before the new terminus was inaugurated, transport workers had faced difficult working conditions. Reports highlighted how drivers and conductors were forced to take shelter under trees during extreme heat and heavy rain due to the absence of proper facilities.

The lack of restrooms was another major concern for transport staff. Difficulties in turning and parking buses near the railway tracks also contributed to traffic congestion, particularly during the evening.

The new terminus is expected to address several of these long-standing infrastructure issues.

GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran, Metropolitan Transport Corporation Managing g Director V.P. Jeyaseelan, Regional Deputy Commissioner (North) Swetha Suman and other senior officials attended the inauguration.