Echo of bus strike - Private buses to be run as special buses
Posted on: 10/Jan/2018 2:46:38 PM
The state government had already announced that Pongal special buses from 11th January (tomorrow - Thursday) to 13th January. It was announced that a total number of 11900 special buses will be run from various locations in the state to other places.
However, as the employees of the state transport corporations went on strike, the booking of the tickets for the above special buses could not be done. So, a query was raised as to whether these special buses will be really operated.
However, the state government is striving to make all arrangements run these buses as planned. As only a minimal number of government buses are run, it is planned to run the privately-owned buses as the special buses,
The data regarding the number of private bus operators, omnibus owners, and those who operate tourism-transport services and the total number of buses available from these sources has been collected. Apart from this, even the buses owned by the colleges and some private agencies are also to be run as special buses.
The private buses available in each district will be entirely operated in operating to other places.
All the college buses available in the districts of Tamil Nadu, Kanchipuram, and Thiruvallur are to be pressed into service as special buses. As the colleges will be closed for the Pongal festive holidays, these buses may not be required by the college authorities. So, the officials have decided to engage all the college buses and their drivers to operate the special buses for the festive seasons as planned.
In this situation, 70000 persons have booked for travel in the government express buses. Out of this, 49000 persons are from the Chennai Metro City, waiting to undertake the travel on these 3 days (11th to 13th January),
In order to make their travel plans to come through without any disturbances, 50% of the government express buses will be run. For the balance 50%, it has been decided to operate the private buses as per the government express bus routes.
As already announced, in the Chennai Metro City, these Pongal special buses to various places are scheduled to start from 5 locations:
- The buses to Madurai, Trichy, Villupuram, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Nagercoil will start from the Koyambedu bus terminus.
- The buses to Vellore, Krishnagiri, and Hosur will start from the Poonamallee bus terminus.
- The buses to go via the Tirupathi route will start from the Anna Nagar bus terminus,
- The buses to Kumbakonam, Thanjavur will start from Tambaram Sanatorium.
- The buses to operate on the East Coast Road to Puducherry, Cuddalore, Chidambaram will start from Saidapet bus terminus.
An official from the transport department shared the information that there has been a delay in finding a solution to the current strike. So, a situation has arisen where the transport must be arranged for the public to plan and carry out their travels without any disturbance and safely.
Around 70000 persons have booked for the regular express buses. So, they need to be given priority. Tomorrow (Thursday, 11th January), 370 buses are to be run. On 12th January, 750 buses will be run. On 13th January, 730 buses will be run.
50% government express buses will being operation. For the balance, it is decided to employ the private buses from various sources.
The persons who had already booked must reach the relevant bus terminus slightly earlier. Even for the passengers who had not done any booking, private buses will be operated as express buses to take them to their destinations.
