Chennai Sees Pongal Exodus with Over 10 Lakh Passengers Departing
The city of Chennai has witnessed an extraordinary surge in travel over the course of the Pongal festival, with close to 10 lakh passengers making their way to their hometowns between January 10 and 12. To accommodate this festive rush, the State Transport Corporations, alongside omnibuses, ran nearly 22,000 services, including special buses to facilitate the travel of people seeking to celebrate the harvest festival with their families. According to Transport Minister SS Sivasankar, the operation was an impressive feat, with 7,59,048 passengers travelling on 13,830 buses, including 6,106 special services.
The increased demand for transport services was evident as the city’s key bus terminuses at Kilambakkam, Koyambedu, and Madhavaram saw massive crowds, with passengers flocking to catch buses headed towards both northern and southern districts of Tamil Nadu. By Monday evening, the transport department had already operated over 2,300 buses, catering to more than 1.18 lakh passengers. In total, the transport authorities had anticipated the need for 21,904 buses, including 14,104 from Chennai and 7,800 from various regions of the state. This expansion in services shows the growing trend of intercity migration during the festive period, driven by a population that has increasingly relied on road transport for such journeys.
In comparison to last year’s figures, where 1,47,658 passengers had booked their tickets, this year’s booking numbers have seen a substantial jump. The number of passengers who pre-booked their seats for government buses stood at 1,89,650, marking an increase of 28% in just one year. The smooth coordination between various agencies, despite the expected rush, reflects the resilience and adaptability of Chennai’s transport system. A senior transport official stated that the total number of passengers might rise even further to touch 8 lakh, with the final surge of travellers flocking to the buses in the days leading up to the festival. The omnibus sector also saw a high volume of passengers, with approximately 1.9 lakh people travelling on 4,766 buses. Despite the demand, officials have noted that fares remained stable this year, with many bus operators charging only normal rates, a welcome move that alleviated public concerns.
From a sustainability perspective, while these efforts have shown the transportation system’s capacity to adapt and meet the surge in demand, questions around environmental sustainability and efficiency remain. With nearly 22,000 buses deployed, the carbon footprint of such extensive operations cannot be ignored. The large-scale movement of passengers also raises questions about the environmental cost of this reliance on road transport, especially in a city already grappling with traffic congestion and air pollution. Public transport systems are critical in reducing individual vehicle use, but continued development in this direction is necessary to accommodate future surges without further straining resources or compromising on environmental sustainability.
Moreover, the efficiency of the services this year underscores a need for long-term planning in terms of infrastructure and environmental stewardship. Moving forward, the transport authorities must focus on enhancing the sustainability of public transport systems by investing in greener technology such as electric buses and improving the frequency and capacity of services during peak periods. Better planning can ensure that the Pongal exodus, a yearly phenomenon, continues to run smoothly while mitigating its environmental impact. As Chennai continues to expand and develop, lessons from this year’s successful rush can serve as a model for more sustainable, efficient urban travel strategies.
