MTC introduces early morning buses in Chennai

Yesterday I had posted about MTC [of it being Pallavan Transport Corporation earlier] – the changing of route nos. which caused confusion to travelling public.

Today’s The Hindu reports of a nice initiative of MTC.  The report states that over r the past few weeks, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has been running services from as early as 3 a.m. The buses connect suburban alighting points of omni buses from other States and districts with railway stations, bus terminii and markets, thus enabling more commuters avail of MTC services.

Senior officials said the change in omni bus timings is one of the factors that has prompted this move. “Earlier, omni buses would come into the city only by 7 a.m. Now, to avoid traffic, they ply early and reach Perungalathur by 4 a.m. and the Koyambedu bus terminus by 5 a.m. In the absence of MTC services, long-distance commuters would fall prey to fleecing autorickshaw drivers,” said a senior MTC official. MTC now operates 40 services during weekdays and more during the weekends. “We have introduced the 3 a.m. buses near Chennai Central and Egmore railway stations too. Also, to help people going to the market, buses have been introduced to Koyambedu too,” the official said.

This indeed is a laudable move ~ those who have travelled to Chennai reaching early morning know it too well – the auto rickshaws would haggle quoting too high a price, knowing too well that there is no option for the harried passenger but to take an auto to home.  Now the bus service would really be a boon to the common man.  Perhaps, it can even be a premium service as the rates would in anyway be far lower than what an auto or a taxi would charge.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

12^th Feb 2015.