Chennai Deepavali buses will be expanded sharply between November 5 and 7, with the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) set to operate 15,659 services from the city to manage the festival travel rush before Deepavali on November 8.
Transport Minister Vijay Tamilan Parthiban announced the arrangements after a review meeting with transport and police officials. The deployment from Chennai includes 6,573 regular services, 7,427 special buses and 1,659 contract carriage buses leased from private operators. A further 26,139 inter-district buses will operate across Tamil Nadu during the period, the minister said.
The largest single-day deployment is planned for November 5, when 5,061 buses will leave Chennai. This will comprise 2,191 regular buses, 2,316 special buses and 554 contract carriage vehicles. The expanded schedule is intended to accommodate passengers travelling out of the city for the festival and reduce pressure on existing services.
The arrangements also address the access problems created by heavy traffic around the Kilambakkam bus terminus. Passengers with pre-booked tickets through the official app will be able to board from 16 points across Chennai. These are Tiruvanmiyur, Avadi, Tambaram, Tiruvottiyur, Siruseri, Adyar, Broadway, Egmore, Ambattur, Taramani, Island Grounds, Guindy, Velachery, Ashok Pillar, Poonamallee and Saidapet.
According to the minister, the boarding-point system is expected to benefit at least 6,000 passengers, keep around 2,000 feeder vehicles away from roads leading to Kilambakkam and reduce travel time and fuel costs. It also distributes passenger access across the city instead of requiring all pre-booked travellers to reach the main terminus before departure.
The government has doubled the daily batta for drivers and conductors during the festival period, citing the additional workload. The minister also warned private omni bus operators against charging excessive fares and said 10 buses had already been impounded for allegedly charging exorbitant prices. Alternative transport was provided to the affected passengers, he said.
Several passenger-comfort measures have been added after rain caused slush-related difficulties during the Ayudha Pooja rush. The department has installed wooden platforms 1.5 feet high at temporary bus stands, arranged additional seating and begun deploying temporary mobile towers to address network connectivity problems.
Packaged drinking water will be sold for Rs 10 through special Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority booths and will also be made available on buses. The transport department’s next operational milestone will be the commencement of the expanded services on November 5, continuing through November 7.
