Commuters seek more ordinary buses from Semmancheri terminus

DT Next will visit all 32 bus stations in the city for a spot assessment.Commuters at Semmancheri bus terminus have urged the Metropolitan Transportation Corporation (MTC) to introduce more ‘whiteboard’ (ordinary) services and also increase bus services to Tambaram and Broadway.

Semmancheri bus terminus is located in a predominantly poor neighbourhood with most of the people living in slum clearance board tenements. The locals, who work as daily wagers in various parts of the city, depend on MTC buses for their daily commute.

From Semmancheri, the buses are being operated to Guindy, Adyar, T Nagar, Tambaram and Broadway. Most of the buses are operated to Guindy, while other routes have fewer buses.

“Most of the buses operated to T Nagar, Broadway and Adyar from the Semmancheri terminus are express. People living in the locality are daily wagers and they travel a long distance for their livelihoods. We cannot afford to spend a lot on bus fares. The MTC should start more ordinary services from Semmancheri, considering the interest of the local people,” S Saravanan, a second-year college student and a resident, said.

He noted that a commuter has to pay Rs 15 to travel to Shollinganallur in a deluxe bus. “If we take a ride in a share auto, it will cost only Rs 10. But it will be always crowded during peak hours. Women and the elderly find it inconvenient to travel in share autos. So they are forced to rely on the MTC buses even though the fare is high,” he said.

K Dhanalakshmi, who works as a labourer at a private firm said that there is no direct bus service to Kelambakkam even though many people work there. “In the absence of a direct bus service, we have to either walk or take a share auto to Kumaran Nagar bus stop to reach Kelambakkam,” she said.

R Govindan, a resident of the slum clearance board tenements, said that the terminus has toilet facilities but it always remains locked. “What is the point in building a toilet and keep it locked? The toilet should be kept clean and open for the public to use it,” he said. He added that the terminus presents a picture of neglect due to lack of maintenance.

An MTC official said that buses running from Semmancheri to Guindy are mostly ordinary services. “Most of the services operated from the terminus are ordinary and a few are deluxe and express services,” he said.