The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Air-conditioned MTC buses on the road to popularity

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Thursday, Apr 03, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Air-conditioned MTC buses on the road to popularity

Krishna Velupillai

Plan to introduce 20 more AC buses this financial year

— PHOTO: R. Shivaji Rao

GAINING PATRONAGE: One of the AC buses from Broadway to Tambaram.

CHENNAI: Commuting can become an ordeal when the summer hits its peak.

This year there is a way to beat the heat while commuting in the city even if you do not own an air-conditioned vehicle of your own.

The air-conditioned fleet of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), comprising 10 Volvo buses, on five routes seems to be gaining in popularity. From near empty buses a couple of months ago to a decent number of patrons, more people are looking upon the buses as an option for travel. K. Murali, a businessman, said that he preferred taking the AC bus to using his two-wheeler . “It gets very difficult to commute in the heat and traffic, particularly in the afternoon. The AC bus is a comfortable alternative,” he said.

A foreign tourist, Christie Johnson, said that she found the bus a great way to travel in the city and at the same time escape the wrath of the summer. She, however, complained that information on the departure timings of the buses were not easily available.

An official of MTC said that it was planning to introduce 20 more AC buses this financial year. “The buses are targeted at the middle and upper classes. Our long term goal is to encourage more people to switch from their cars to public transport. We hope the AC buses will assist us in achieving this,” he said. The minimum fare in the AC buses is Rs.10 and the maximum Rs 38.

AC bus routes

The journey time of 21G Broadway to Tambaram is one hour and 10 minutes. The first bus service from Broadway leaves at 5.30 a.m. and the last at 7.50 p.m. The first bus from Tambaram leaves at 6.50 a.m. and the last at 9.10 p.m.

The journey time of E18 High Court to Guduvanchery is one hour and 25 minutes. The first bus service from High Court leaves at 6.20 a.m. and the last at 9 p.m. The first bus from Guduvanchery leaves at 7.55 a.m. and the last at 9.40 p.m. The journey time of A1 Central Railway Station to Thiruvanmiyur is 50 minutes. The first bus service from the Central is at 5 a.m. and the last at 9.10 p.m. The first service from Thiruvanmiyur leaves at 6 a.m. and the last at 10.5 p.m.

The journey time of A51 High Court to Tambaram East — is one hour and 25 minutes. The first bus service from High Court is at 9.10 a.m. and the last at 7.35 p.m. The first one from Tambaram East leaves at 7.30 p.m. and the last at 9.20 p.m.

The journey time of D70 Ambattur Estate to Velachery is one hour and 10 minutes. The first bus leaves Ambattur Estate at 7.40 a.m. and the last at 8. 30 p.m. The first service from Velachery leaves at 9 a.m. and the last at 8.30 p.m.

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