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Spread over 36 acres and built at a cost of Rs 103 crore, the bus stand, near Koyambedu market, will be declared open by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on November 18. Nearly 270 buses can be parked at a time in the bus stand. Once it is opened, the existing bus stands at Broadway will be shifted to the new bus stand. According to the Madras Metropolitan Development Authority sources, state transport buses including express buses operate nearly 2,500 trips a day within the city limits.
Three restaurants and 30 cafeteria and petty shops have also been put up in the complex. Fifteen drinking water taps, 79 toilets and 536 seats have been provided in the bus stand for the convenience of passengers. Future plans include opening of banks and restaurants in the complex. The government is expected to collect a revenue of Rs 25 lakh through advertisement hoardings and Rs 3.5 crore through entry fees from vehicles. Private and government buses coming from southern districts will now go to Koyambedu via Tambaram, Kathipara Junction at Guindy, Ashok Nagar and Jawaharlal Nehru Road. Similarly, buses from the western side will go via Poonamallee High Road, Velappanchavady, Nerkundram and Maduravoyal.
The inauguration of the new bus stand is expected to drastically ease the congestion in the city, especially on arterial Anna Salai. As a collective sigh goes up, it raises another query. What about the passengers themselves? "It takes me two hours to reach my native village. But now, I will have to take into account another extra hour or more to reach Koyambedu," says Singaram, who did not seem enthused about the whole idea. "Couldn't the government have found land somewhere in Tambaram," asked another Chennaivasi. Architectural beauty and planning apart, the logistical problems of the passengers remains their own! Parry's to Koyambedu, a paradigm shift
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Copyright
2008, Chennai Interactive
Business Services (P) Ltd. |
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The countdown has begun, come Monday and the mofussil bus stand will shift from Parry's Corner in Chennai to suburban Koyambedu. Finishing touches are being taken care of at a furious pace for the mega event - the commissioning of South Asia's biggest such complex.
Exclusive parking bays to accommodate nearly 500 autorickshaws and 250 call taxis had also been provided for in the complex, the foundation stone for which was laid in 1999 during the DMK regime.
Omnibuses coming from the south will no longer be allowed to enter Tambaram. They will have to go via the newly laid 200 Feet Road at Irumbuliyur. For parking omnibuses, five acres of land has been set apart.
