Chennai to see 15,659 bus services for Deepavali rush from November 5
Transport Minister Vijay Tamilan Parthiban announced expanded bus operations and 16 new boarding points to manage festival travel.
The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) will operate 15,659 bus services from Chennai between November 5 and 7 to handle the Deepavali travel surge, according to reports by Urban Acres, Moneycontrol and Hindustan Times.
Transport Minister Vijay Tamilan Parthiban stated that the Chennai deployment includes 6,573 regular services, 7,427 special buses and 1,659 contract carriage vehicles leased from private firms. An additional 26,139 inter-district buses will run across the state during this period.
The largest single-day rollout is scheduled for November 5, with 5,061 buses departing Chennai. This total consists of 2,191 regular, 2,316 special and 554 contract carriage buses.
To ease congestion at the Kilambakkam bus terminus, 16 boarding points have been established for passengers with tickets booked via the official app. These locations include Tiruvanmiyur, Avadi, Tambaram, Tiruvottiyur, Siruseri, Adyar, Broadway, Egmore, Ambattur, Taramani, Island Grounds, Guindy, Velachery, Ashok Pillar, Poonamallee and Saidapet.
The minister noted that 10 buses have been impounded for charging excessive fares, warning private operators against overcharging. He also mentioned that the government has doubled the daily batta for drivers and conductors.
Additional measures include installing 1.5-foot-high wooden platforms at temporary stands, providing extra seating and deploying mobile towers for connectivity. Packaged drinking water will be available on buses and at Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority booths for Rs 10.