Chennai, September 14 (Daily Kiran) : The Tamil Nadu transport department is gearing up to handle a significant influx of travelers returning to Chennai after the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities. On September 14 and 15, a total of 3,565 special buses will be operational to assist passengers arriving in the city.
Of these, 2,240 buses are scheduled for September 14, while 1,325 will run on September 15. Additionally, 160 special services will terminate at Madhavaram, and 370 buses will operate along the East Coast Road to Koyambedu.
The special arrangements come in response to the mass exodus of people from Chennai during the festival. Approximately 2.3 million passengers traveled by bus to various destinations across Tamil Nadu on September 11 and 12.
Transport officials anticipate that the peak return traffic from cities such as Tiruchi, Madurai, Dindigul, Salem, Krishnagiri, Hosur, Vellore, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Tuticorin, and Tenkasi will occur on September 14 and 15.
To manage the crowds at bus terminals, officials have been instructed to monitor the situation closely and to initiate additional services as needed. Typically, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation operates 508 buses on 47 routes from Kilambakkam, completing 2,107 trips. They also run 130 buses on nine routes passing through the terminal, accounting for 1,362 trips.
To enhance connectivity during peak hours, 50 extra MTC buses will run 400 trips on the evening and night of September 14. Furthermore, an additional 150 trips will be launched early on September 15. City buses will be deployed at Central, Egmore, and Tambaram railway stations to facilitate the transit of train passengers to other parts of Chennai. Services on alternative routes will also be increased in high-demand areas.
In light of complaints regarding inflated fares before the festival, the transport commissioner’s office has intensified inspections across Tamil Nadu. In just three days, officials inspected 3,512 buses, identifying violations in 639 vehicles. This led to the issuance of inspection reports, electronic fines, and actions against operators.
As a result of this enforcement campaign, authorities collected ₹14.39 lakh in compliance fees and ₹3.19 lakh in fines. They also recovered ₹27.58 lakh in taxes owed to Tamil Nadu from buses registered in other states. The department has stated that inspections will continue to ensure passenger safety and compliance with travel regulations and permits during the holiday period.
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