Residents of about half a dozen villages near Mangadu have urged the MTC management to extend services beyond the Mangadu bus stop to improve connectivity to their areas. After the small bus service to these areas were withdrawn, the people are forced to depend on share auto-rickshaws, the number of which has went up by about five times in the recent times.
Chennai:
Currently, the MTC operates its services till Mangadu bus stop, with the main routes being 53E (Broadway), 17B (Broadway), 54M (High Court) and 17BCT (CMBT Market).
However, much to the chagrin of commuters from Pattur, Sendurpuram, Paraniputhur, Easwara Nagar and Sikkarayapuram villages, these services do not extend to their neighbourhood.
Though a small bus, S59, was being operated between Mangadu to Tiruverkadu via Kattupakkam bus stop, the service was withdrawn, complained residents. “Previously, the MTC operated small buses which connected the villages to the main bus stop in Mangadu.
Authorities should extend the regular services to our villages too, which are located just a few kilometers away,” said V Murugan, a local resident.
Making use of this situation, the number of share auto-rickshaws along these routes have multiplied, owing to the burgeoning demand.
“Earlier, around five share autos were taking care of the complete route. A couple of weeks ago, nearly 25 share auto rickshaws were allotted along these routes.
They do a brisk business, as these places have no alternative mode of transport to connect with the rest of the city,” said B Anbazhagan, the general secretary of the Chennai Metropolitan Motor Workers’ Union.
When asked, an MTC official they had withdrawn the small bus services due to the bad conditions of the roads in these villages.
“Driving on these roads would damage the vehicles, and it is tough to get spare parts for the small buses. Instead, we have increased the number of MTC bus services to the main bus stop.
The new small buses will be operated along the underserved routes,” the official said.