Stalin inaugurates Kilambakkam bus terminus

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin, on Saturday, opened Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) at Kilambakkam and flagged off bus service from the newly constructed facility. Construction work commenced in March 2019.

Constructed on 86 acres of land at a cost of around Rs. 400 Crore, as many as 2,310 buses, including 40 omnibuses, will be operated from the facility every day to southern districts. It has been estimated that around 1 lakh people will use the bus stand daily. The terminus will have parking space for 250 buses, 270 cars, and 3,500 two-wheelers. Also, a suburban railway station and a skywalk have been planned to link the bus stand.

Even though the construction works were completed a few months ago, the inauguration was delayed due to insufficient storm water drain facility and road facility. Apart from constructing drains to a total length of 1,700 metres, roads around the bus terminus were widened for the free flow of traffic.

It may be noted that KCBT is the third bus terminus in Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) after CMBT in Koyambedu and Madhavaram bus stand. Moreover, CMDA has taken measures to construct new bus stands in Thirumazhisai, Chengalpattu and Mahabalipuram.

Proposed in 2011 and constructed by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), the newly constructed bus terminus was bogged down by several issues including land acquisition and frequent modification of detailed project reports. As an ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) located close to the site, the construction was delayed for several months.

As per norms, ASI nod is requisite to carry out construction activity near the archaeological site. Also, the planning authority required permission from the National Monument Authority (NMA).

During the inauguration of the bus terminus, ministers PK Sekarbabu, TM Anbarasan, M Subramanian, Chennai Mayor R Priya, Housing and Urban development secretary C Samayamoorthy, CMDA member-secretary Anshul Mishra and others were present.