Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Kumbakonam) Limited has phased out vestibule buses that were in operation in Tiruchi and Thanjavur districts.
The vestibule or double buses — a single-decker design comprising of two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint - were of convenience as the two sections had a clear segmentation for women and men passengers.
Though it was tough for the drivers since the buses required large road space and design for manoeuvring, there was abundant space for carrying more number of passengers, and, more importantly, preventing footboard travel as they had doors.
In fact, the introduction of vestibule buses were projected as passenger-friendly drive by the TNSTC.
The buses built in Karur were designed to accommodate 62 passengers - 35 in the front and 27 in the back section. The overall length was about 15 metres.
These buses were operated between Chathram Bus Stand and residential localities and towns including K.K.Nagar, Ponmalaipatti, Viralimalai, Thuvakudi, and Keeranur.
According to a senior TNSTC official, operation of vestibule buses could not be sustained since the chassis the models were not available after six years of introduction.
The buses had to inevitably be condemned and dismantled and interchanged with later models after running for seven lakh kilometres, the official said.