Airport-Koyambedu AC bus service discontinued by Metropolitan Transport Corporation
Posted on: 01/Jan/2014 2:18:52 PM
Due to poor patronage the air-conditioned 16-seater bus service from the airport to Koyambedu has been suspended.
Instead, the service is now being operated from Tambaram to Koyambedu and further towards Red Hills.The reason being cited for poor patronage is the steep fare — Rs. 110 for a trip from the airport to Koyambedu.
The crew was operating largely empty buses, most of the time. Four AC buses were operated on the route, each making at least four shuttle services a day.
The poor patronage had forced them to wind up the four services. Now, they are operating them from Tambaram — two each to Red Hills (route 114) and Koyambedu (route 70). The fare structure is similar to ones in regular AC volvo coaches. A ticket to Koyambedu from Tambaram costs Rs. 45. A section of the crew said the 16-seater buses are ideal for shuttling between the airport and train or road hubs, but the high fares discourage commuters.
However, since Saturday last, when the new service was introduced, the daily collections per trip netted by these buses have increased, as compared to the earnings during the service from airport to Koyambedu. The blue buses make 16 trips, to both Koyambedu and Red Hills.
