There is reduction in the small bus services in Chennai says commuters
Posted on: 21/Nov/2018 10:17:29 AM
In Chennai city small buses are being operated by MTC or metropolitan transport corporation for the benefit of people. Many passengers use these small buses to reach their places of destination in Chennai. It is now brought out that MTC has reduced the number of small buses in Chennai city and even scrapped operation of these small buses along some routes beyond Tambaram. Many commuters who use these small buses complained about the reduction of these buses. The officials belonging to MTC were of the opinion that there was no reduction in the small buses running in Chennai in the last year. It is clear from the official data that the daily footfall recorded per bus fell from 625 in 2017 to the present 565. The patronage declined by 10 percent in the above mentioned time period.
To improve the last mile connectivity in Chennai, former chief minister of TN, Dr. Jayalalitha launched small buses in the year 2013 is well known. These small buses were highly preferred for many commuters in Chennai as these small buses connected many un-served areas with main roads. These small buses moved along the small roads very easily even when there was traffic jams in Chennai. The state transport department policy note for 2018-19 revealed that small buses were operated along 82 routes and there were as many as 21 spare buses. On daily basis as many as 15 small buses could not be operated because of many drivers and conductors getting absent. This was confirmed by a senior official of MTC. Every day as many as 35 small buses remain idle at many bus depots in Chennai.
A resident of Perungalathur expressed her views and spoke about how small bus services along S90 bus route was stopped due to poor patronage. She then added that people would not wait at the bus stops if the small bus services are not regular. In the month of October a meeting took place and in the meeting Adambakkam Residents Welfare Association complained about small bus services along routes like S85 and S11 connecting Alandur metro station with Velachery and Moovarasanpet respectively were not regular. It must be taken into account that there was high patronage in these above mentioned bus routes. As per the officials belonging to MTC, the department were spending more than the earnings got from these small buses. MTC buses earned Rs 30 per km by means of small buses and Rs 40 per km was spent. This was confirmed by an official data.
Mr Rama Rao of Traffic and Transportation Forum spoke about how even the frequency of regular bus services has been reduced. This has resulted in the increase in the waiting time of the commuters from 20 to 30 minutes to 40 minutes.
