Minibuses to connect 65% of unserved areas in Coimbatore district

Coimbatore: Regional transport department officials have identified 29 routes to operate minibuses in the district. The bus routes will be published in a govt gazette notification within two days, following which applications will be received from people interested in operating minibuses, which will ensure connectivity to 65% of unserved areas in the district.
According to a transport department official, the applications will be scrutinised at the end of this month and permits will be issued on March 4. "If two people apply to operate minibuses on the same route, the permit will be sanctioned immediately. If there are more than two applicants for the same route, the route will be allocated based on the draw method. Minibuses are likely to be operated from May 1."
It was in 2024 that the transport department notified the New Comprehensive Minibus Scheme to enhance connectivity to urban and rural areas. Now, minibuses will be operated under this scheme across the state.
One of the routes that transport department officials identified connects Pioneer Mill Road near PSG College of Technology and Mariamman Temple at Kalapatti, covering a distance of 10.9km. The route will cover areas such as Ellaithottam Pirivu, Thanneerpandal S bend, Codissia trade fair complex, SITRA, KMCH, Goldwins, housing unit and Veeriyampalayam. This route comprises 8.5km of unserved stretch.
Another identified route connects Peelamedu bus stop and Nehru Nagar near Surya bakery, covering a distance of nine kilometres. The minibus will travel via Ellaithottam Pirivu, Gandhi Maa Nagar Pirivu, Indu Nagar, Kumudam Nagar Pirivu and Sathya Nagar, serving 6.9km of unserved stretch.
Yet another route connects Sathyamangalam Road and SITRA, covering a distance of 13.5km. Areas covered include FCI Road, VG Rao Nagar, RK Hospital and Codissia.
Another route will connect Pullukadu and Gandhipuram (till VKK Menon Road). The bus will cover a distance of 15.7km, covering areas such as Anbu Nagar, Rose Garden, Sungam bypass road, Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, railway station, GKNM Junction, Manis School, Nava India Road, Ramakrishna Hospital and VKK Menon Road.
Among the identified minibus routes are Podanur-Townhall, GP Singal-Seeranaickenpalayam, Ukkadam-Seeranaickenpalayam and Kittampalayam-Chinnamathampalayam.
District collector Kranthi Kumar Pati said the new routes will cover 65% of unserved areas. "It will help cover the remote areas in the urban and rural areas of Coimbatore. The newly-added areas in the city corporation will also be covered with the minibus service. We are expecting a huge number of applications for the permits to operate minibuses."