Around 4,000 residents of Melappedu, a village near Pattabiram, would not let go of Route Number 61A, the lone MTC service plying between Melappedu and the Ambattur Industrial Estate bus terminus, a distance of around 20 km.
When the service was converted into a cut service and reduced to half its original running distance, they started a spirited fight, which ended on a happy note on June 11, with the original features of the service being restored.
On March 28 this year, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation converted the bus service into a cut-service operating from Melappedu to the Avadi bus terminus, a distance of around 10 km. From there, commuters had to board another bus to reach other parts of the city including T. Nagar, Vadapalani, Egmore, Broadway, Villivakkam and Anna Salai via Ambattur Industrial Estate.
Commuters, who are mostly industrial workers, wage labourers and poor farmers from Melappedu, were upset over this change.
Following the change, residents had to spend more time and money for commuting from Melappedu to their workplaces.
Subsequently, a signature campaign was organised with residents expressed their anger against MTC for bringing in the cut-service.
Residents also expressed their disappointment to elected representatives.
“Last month, a group of residents from the village led by me met senior MTC officials at its headquarters in Pallavan House in Anna Salai and sought the restoration of the original bus service.
The MTC officials were sympathetic to our plight,” says B. Ravi, vice-president, Palaveddu village panchayat which comprises Melappedu, Alathur and Edapalayam villages.
Finally, the MTC restored the original bus service with at least six trips between Ambattur Industrial Estate and Melappedu every day with two drivers and conductors working in shifts. After the day’s work, the bus returns to Ambattur Industrial Estate depot.