Satellite terminus in Velachery remains a distant dream

A proposal was made to construct the facility at a cost of Rs 48 crore in Velachery. However, it was not taken forward as the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) advised the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructural Financial Services Limited to carry out the feasibility report only for the Madhavaram terminus seven years ago.

The project director of Traffic and Transportation Forum, V Rama Rao said, “The government sanctioned a huge sum to construct a satellite terminus long back. Such a facility can be opened in Madhavaram with dedicated buses to be operated to Andhra and beyond. Then, it is feasible in this part of the city, too. The commuters will benefit if such a facility is opened at Velachery.”

A senior official from the State Transport Department said, “The terminus has caught up in land acquisition problems, which is the primary reason for the delay. Subsequently, the feasibility of the project will be studied before its commencement.”

A top official from the MTC said, “Once it is developed, it can be utilised to halt several buses and operate them to the city and southern suburbs. It will aid us to rationalise the routes and save the cost of fuel.”

The Madhavaram satellite terminus, which was inaugurated in October, aims to ease congestion at MGR bus terminus in Koyambedu. To improve connectivity, more than eight MTC buses are being plied to the satellite terminus.

“The additional services, which were introduced during the festival season, are being continued to ease commuting,” said a top official from the MTC.