Sudden shifting of the Villivakkam bus stand to ICF in Chennai!!
There is always a huge footfall of 20000 to 30000 person`s daily at the Villivakkam bus stand. From here, as many as 73 regular buses and 7 minibuses are operated every day to localities like Perambur, Broadway, FS Estate, Besant Nagar and Thiruvanmiyur etc.
The Chennai Metro Rail Limited or CMRL would construct a temporary bus stand at the Parade Ground in ICF in Chennai. The current Villivakkam bus stand would be shifted to ICF grounds for 2 years to facilitate the construction of an underground metro station. Once MTC or Metropolitan Transport Corporation submits its design, then CMRL would begin its work of constructing a temporary bus stand.
To use the ICF land of 1441 sq m for operating buses, a lease agreement has been signed between MTC and CMRL. On lease at Rs 52.04lakhs, CMRL has taken up the ICF land. The 2 departments have already planned the construction.
For constructing a temporary structure, a joint site inspection was organised with MTC. This was mentioned by an official belonging to CMRL. Information collected is that Tata Projects Ltd (Contractor of CMRL) would be constructing it at the earliest.
There is a huge demand for bus routes like 27D and 47 etc and this was brought out by a staff from MTC. There would be a need to operate minibuses to access Parade Grounds at ICF once when the buses get shifted from the Villivakkam bus stand to the ICF. Point to be noted is that the Parade Grounds at ICF is about 1.6km from the Villivakkam bus stand.
It was mentioned by a resident despite the shorter distance that a feeder bus service was essential for the passengers to reach ICF bus stand from Villivakkam railway station and from other nearby places etc.
