Mini buses of private operators becomes operational in 11 routes in the outskirts of Chennai

The State government having soft launched the last mile connectivity project by introducing mini bus services of private operators in the extended areas of the Chennai Corporation in 11 routes plans to expand the routes in the coming months.

This comes in the wake of the Chennai Collector, who is the head of the Regional Transport authorities of Chennai district, having called for applications for 72 identified routes in the extended areas of the Chennai Corporation including Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur, for operating mini bus services by private operators in February this year. 

A senior official of the State Transport and Road Safety department said in the first phase 11 routes have been given permits to private operators with nine routes in south Chennai and two routes in north Chennai. All the operators have begun operation of the bus services and have been receiving moderate response. 

The 11 mini bus routes where services have become operational includes Adambakkam Railway Station to Eechangadu junction, Eechangadu to Madipakkam bus stand, Madipakkam Koot Road to Kaiveli, Rajiv Gandhi Salai of Karapakkam to Thoraipakkam, Sholinganallur to Thoraipakkam, Kovilambakkam to Kamakshi Hospital junction, DLF Ramapuram to Porur toll gate, Porur Chettiar Agaram to Alwarthirunagar Aavin Sales Office, Valasaravakkam Lamech School to Porur Meenakshi General Hospital, Nolambur to Paruthipattu Check Post, and Ambattur Dunlop Bus Stand to Pammathukulam Bus Stand.

The notification was issued by the Chennai Collector in the backdrop of the Home department issuing a Government Order titled New Comprehensive Scheme 2024 and Fare Revision of Mini Bus Under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 giving sanction for operating small buses throughout the State. In Chennai, the officials of the Bus Route Road of the Chennai corporation had to do a route feasibility study by surveying the road and provide details to the Collector based on which routes have been identified. Previously the case was that the private operators would apply for routes for which permits would be given, he added. 

Based on the last mile project the Chennai Collectorate identified 39 routes in south chennai and 33 routes in north chennai, which were merged with the Chennai Corporation and where public transport bus services remained ‘unserved’. 

As part of the last mile connectivity project the private operators were launched on June 15 by issuing permits for 2 routes in north chennai coming under Poonamallee and Ambattur RTOs. In south chennai 9 routes have been allowed with three in Alandur, 4 in Sholinganallur and 2 in Tambaram.

S. Praveenkumar, a resident of Keelkattalai, said the operation of mini bus service from Adambakkam railway station to Eechangadu would not have come at a better time, as the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus services on the route has been completely stopped due to metro rail work. He wanted more services to be operated. 

Similarly the launch of mini bus services would go a long way in filling the last mile gap for the residents of the information technology corridor of Rajiv Gandhi Salai where almost three mini bus services have become operational. 

A.Sivakumar, a resident of Prestige apartment of Sholinganallur, citing the recent study of the Federation of OMR Residents Association (FOMRRA) said there is huge gap in last mile connectivity to hundreds of residents. 

Even as mini buses by private contractors have become operational, the MTC for their part plans to launch a mini bus service from Velachery to Thoraipakkam via Perungudi is being planned to be launched. The small bus service would be operated from Velachery Vijaynagar bus terminus via Taramani Link Road, Bharani Street and the interior parts of Kallukuttai to be linked to Thoraipakkam. The new mini bus service would help fill the absence of any public transport services for the thousands of residents of Kallukuttai to reach Velachery. The MTC had launched a mini bus service for providing last mile link for Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) commuters by operating a mini bus (S30K) from Kotturpuram railway station to Guindy railway station, a few months ago.