35 more small buses to hit city roads soon

In an another initiative to improve road transportation and reduce congestion, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) will induct 35 mini-buses in the city. MTC officials say those mini buses are under construction and will hit the road soon. With this, the number of mini buses across the city and its suburbs will be 200.

According to officials, the first such services were launched in October 2013 and the number of small buses were gradually increased. Officials also added that the government was very keen to introduce such buses, considering the inconvenience faced by bus commuters travelling from inner roads in the city and suburbs.

Accordingly, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa considered this issue on priority and flagged off 50 buses the first time around. 

“In fact, it is heartening that earlier people were struggling to find buses and they had to walk long distance to arterial roads to board buses or trains. But, things took a turn for the better, after the state government launched this much-needed services,” said Mohan Ram, president, Consumer Protection Council. 

He also added that still officials concerned should inspect all the zones and suburbs and submit the reports to the government for operating more number of mini buses. 

“In another sense, the bus passengers also prefer the small buses, as share auto rickshaws and ordinary ones collect extra fares, which are double that of small buses,” said T Vijay Ganesh, a regular small bus passenger of Paraniputhur area near Porur. 

S Murugesan, General Manager, (Technical Wing), MTC, told Dt Next that since mini buses played an instrumental role in connecting people with main roads and railway stations, the government was paying special attention to their upkeep. 

“Accordingly, there are 265 small buses plying in the city and its suburbs. Further, those buses are receiving good response among bus passengers. So, a total of 35 more small buses are under construction and the government will launch the service after all the works completed,” he said, adding that they would find routes for these buses soon.