Residents face hardships as Gummidipoondi bus depot project remains stalled after 12 years
The project involves acquiring over four acres of land in Pethikuppam village, Gummidipoondi taluk, in Thiruvallur district, located along the front face of National Highway 16.
'The absence of a dedicated bus depot has created challenges for daily commuters, affecting the livelihoods and well-being of our community members,' said S. Suresh Babu, president of the Billakuppam Village Welfare Association. 'The lack of a proper facility has not only reduced public transport efficiency but also increased travel time and passenger inconvenience,' he added.
Frequency of local buses
Gummidipoondi has its own bus stand located in the middle of the town, in a densely populated area. However, the frequency of local bus services to Chennai is lower than required. Moreover, long-distance buses stop on the National Highway, which is about one and a half kilometers away from the bus stand, causing inconvenience to the public.
K. Munirathinam, a CPI(M) party functionary from the town, said, 'We are not well connected to the city, the district headquarters Thiruvallur, or nearby areas. One has to walk one and half kilometers from the town or take another vehicle catch long-distance buses on the National Highway. Most such long-distance buses do not come into the town.'
He added that over 10,000 workers are employed at the SIPCOT near Gummidipoondi and most of them hail from other districts. Like locals, they are also facing difficulty commuting from the town.
'We have a bus stand inside the town, which connects it to several panchayats in and around the area. People from 61 panchayats use the bus stand as a connecting point. At present, the bus stand does not have a shelter for passengers to protect them from the scorching sun or the rains during monsoons. There are no bus bays either. It lacks basic amenities,' complained M. Kannan, a resident of Gummidipoondi.
When asked about these complaints, DMK MLA T.J. Govindarajan had said in the Assembly, 'I have raised the question of setting up the proposed bus depot and bus stand off the National Highway.'
New bus stand
Replying to Mr. Govindarajan's question, Transport Minister S.S. Sivasankar had said, taking into account the financial situation, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) depot will be set up in Gummidipoondi this year. There is a bus stand in Gummidipoondi town, where very few buses can be parked. 'So, the District Collector has identified a premise in Pethikuppam village for setting up a new bus stand, where buses will be operated to Chennai city. Both the bus stand and depot will be set up this year,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
24 minutes ago
- News18
Left parties pay rich tributes to Achuthanandan
Agency: PTI New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) Left leaders paid rich tributes to former Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan on Monday, with CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby saying the veteran leader's demise marks the 'end of an era". Achuthanandan died on Monday at the age of 101. In a post on X, Baby said Achuthanandan's life was a saga of struggle for justice and equality. 'Comrade V S Achuthanandan's passing marks the end of an era," Baby said. He pointed out that the former Kerala chief minister was born into poverty and orphaned at 11. 'He had to quit school. Working at a coir factory, he was initiated into the trade union movement and joined the Communist Party at a young age," Baby said. 'Synonymous with the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising, he was brutally tortured by the police. He was the last surviving member of the 32 who walked out of CPI National Council in 1964 and founded the CPI(M). His 101 years were a saga of struggle for justice and equality," the CPI(M) general secretary added. Paying homage to the veteran leader, CPI general secretary D Raja said Achuthanandan's 'principled life, simplicity, and dedication to the people will remain an inspiration to the coming generations". 'Comrade Achuthanandan's political journey, spanning more than eight decades, stands as a testament to unwavering commitment to the ideals of socialism, secularism, and people's rights," Raja said. He said Achuthanandan was widely respected across party lines and by the people of Kerala. 'The CPI extends its deep condolences to his family, friends, admirers and to the CPI(M)," he added. CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya also paid tributes to the former Kerala chief minister. 'Just got the news of the passing of Comrade V S Achuthanandan, former P B member of CPI(M) and CM of Kerala, and one of the tallest leaders of the communist movement. Our deepest respect to the legendary leader and condolences to his family and comrades," Bhattacharya said in a post on X. The CPI(M), in a statement, called Achuthanandan an outstanding leader and a veteran of the country's Communist movement. 'The Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) dips its red banner in salute to V S Achuthanandan. It conveys its heartfelt condolences to his wife, son and daughter," the statement said. Achuthanandan, one of India's most-respected Left leaders and a key figure in Kerala's political history, died in a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram while undergoing treatment following a cardiac arrest. PTI AO RC view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 23:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Govt buses operating from Panjapur revised ticket fare: CPI
Trichy: Communist Party of India (CPI) has alleged that Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation's mofussil and city buses operating from the Panjapur terminus have revised fares by Rs 5-10 per ticket without prior notice. "Economic air-conditioned buses operated from Trichy to Pudukkottai are collecting 70 instead of 60 per ticket. Similarly, the bypass rider buses have increased the ticket fare by 5. Both normal and express services have raised the fares," S Siva, CPI's Trichy urban district secretary, said. There is lack of clarity whether the distance commuted by TNSTC buses have increased or decreased after shifting to the Panjapur terminus on Trichy-Madurai NH. Municipal administration minister Nehru, while inaugurating the bus services from Panjapur on July 16, said a team headed by RTO would discuss the bus ticket fare revision, and until then same fares would be collected.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
When VS Achuthanandan made his film debut at 93, fighting a powerful bottling plant threatening people's drinking water resources
To describe VS Achuthanandan, who served as the 11th Chief Minister of Kerala, as anything less than 'the Vanguard of Revolution' would be an injustice. For the greater part of his life, spanning over a century, he has remained at the forefront of resistance movements for the downtrodden and in relentless pursuit of justice. Born into a poor Ezhava family, the Communist Party of India–Marxist (CPI–M) strongman was orphaned before reaching his teenage years. With no choice but to find work to survive, Achuthanandan dropped out of school in Class VII and became a child labourer. Even amid his struggles for survival and a life marred by hardships, he refused to lead a self-centred life. From that early age until he withdrew from public life a few years ago due to ill health, his journey spanned over eight tumultuous decades. It was marked by unwavering political stances that aligned with the interests of common people, a deep understanding of justice, and a commitment to action over rhetoric. That is precisely why 'VS', beyond being just his initials, grew to symbolise one of the most influential and unshakeable chapters in Kerala's history. Known for his distinctive speech delivery and natural flair for humour, VS Achuthanandan earned admirers across generations. From schoolchildren to professionals, whenever the opportunity arose to perform mimicry, many rushed to the stage to imitate his highly theatrical mannerisms and expressive body language. The thunderous applause such performances received was testament to his widespread influence. Interestingly, that indirect one wasn't his only brush with the performing arts. Did you know that the legendary Marxist leader — who also served as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Kerala Assembly for 15 years — once appeared in a movie? Yep, you heard that right. And no, we're not referring to fictional characters inspired by him. VS Achuthanandan indeed appeared in a film as himself, marking his acting debut at the age of 93. Directed by Jeevan Das, the political drama Campus Diary was released in 2016, and in it, VS portrayed a fictionalised version of himself, lending support to a student-led environmental protest. The scene, filmed in Koothuparamba in Kannur district, depicted VS as a beloved political figure joining a group of college students protesting against a powerful bottling plant whose operations had disrupted the local drinking water supply. In the brief but impactful scene, VS was shown addressing the students, extending his solidarity. After the movie's release, VS watched it in a theatre, accompanied by his wife Vasumathy and son Arun Kumar. The film featured Sudev Nair, Thalaivasal Vijay, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Mamukkoya, Sunil Sukhada, Gautami Nair, Joy Mathew, and Kottayam Naseer in key roles. VS Achuthanandan, 101, passed away at a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. The Kerala government has declared a public holiday on Tuesday and three days of mourning. VS will be cremated at the Valiyachudukadu funeral ground in his home district of Alappuzha on Wednesday.
