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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Panjappur terminus goes live, mofussil and intra-city buses to run from facility
TIRUCHY: With the flagging off of the first set of buses by Minister for Municipal Administration KN Nehru, operations commenced at the Rs 492.55-crore Muthamizh Arignar Dr Kalaignar Karunanidhi Integrated Bus Terminus at Panjappur on Wednesday. All long-distance buses plying across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states as well as intra-city buses will now be operated through the terminus. Addressing media persons after the launch of operations at the terminus that was inaugurated by the chief minister on May 9, Nehru said, "We are still in the process of finalising the annual maintenance contract." The terminus, however, has been equipped with all essential passenger amenities, and no additional user fee will be charged. Until permanent shops are established, passengers can buy food and beverages from kiosks, the minister added. While the terminus's fully air-conditioned ground floor is designated for mofussil (inter-district) bus operations, city buses will be operated from the first floor, which is not air-conditioned. According to a district administration release on Wednesday, TNSTC has deployed city buses from the new terminus on key urban routes including Central Bus Stand, Chathiram Bus Stand, Srirangam and Thiruverumbur. To meet early-morning commuter demand, 196 additional bus trips will be operated between 3 am and 10 am. Suburban and long-distance services operated by TNSTC, SETC and private operators will also use the facility. To ensure smooth operations, TNSTC has posted staff in rotation to provide round-the-clock support.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bharat Bandh leaves minimal impact in Coimbatore district
The nationwide general strike called by a forum of 10 central trade unions on Wednesday, opposing 'the anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the Union government', did not affect normalcy in Coimbatore district. While public transport services and private vehicles plied normally across the district, some of the inter-State bus services, especially the ones to Kerala, were affected. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation and SETC buses to Palakkad and other parts of Kerala from Ukkadam bus stand and Thiruvalluvar bus stand did not operate. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses also did not operate services to and from Coimbatore. Educational institutions, hotels, shops and other establishments functioned normally. Coimbatore city and district police said that no major disruptions to traffic due to protests and gatherings of trade unions were reported. A joint forum of 11 trade unions staged protests at six locations, namely BSNL office near Collectorate, Periyanaickenpalayam, Mettupalayam, Sulur, Pollachi, and Valparai in the district, drawing participation from over 3,000 workers. The strike was held to press for 17 key demands of the forum of the central trade unions. These included the withdrawal of the four new labour codes, implementation of International Labour Organisation Convention 81 to ensure workplace inspections, and immediate convening of the long-pending Indian Labour Conference. They also urged the government to fill vacancies in public departments and reopen all 23 NTC textile mills, including seven in Tamil Nadu. 'This strike is not just for workers but for the people's welfare,' said S. Krishnamoorthy, district secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions. 'Privatisation affects essential services and job security.' He added, 'We want the government to hear the working class before implementing any reforms.'
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
6L people used Kilambakkam bus terminus in five days: Govt
Chennai: Amid backlash over delays and crowding at the Kilambakkam bus terminus during the Bakrid and muhurtham weekend rush, state govt claimed that more than 6 lakh passengers were transported in 11,026 special and regular buses from June 4 to 8. State transport officials said 3,028 buses, including 936 specials, operated out of Chennai on June 7 alone, ferrying 1.66 lakh passengers. This comes days after hundreds of stranded passengers staged a road roko on NH-45 outside Kilambakkam late on Wednesday night, blocking traffic for nearly four hours. With complaints mounting, State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) has now blamed long-running flyover work on the GST Road stretch between Maduranthakam and Melmaruvathur for the cascading delays. SETC managing director R Mohan, in a letter to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), urged urgent widening of the single-lane service road that has become a choke point for buses arriving from southern districts. The letter notes that vehicles get trapped for up to 1.5km in this bottleneck, losing 45 minutes to 1 hour in the process. "During holidays, the situation worsens with heavy vehicles slowed by pothole-ridden service roads," it said. NHAI officials said they have already provided a two-lane service road but blamed the narrowed usable width on vehicles parked by residents and TNSTC buses halting at roadside eateries. They assured that two underpasses being built at Padalam and Uthiramerur would ease congestion within 8-9 months. Meanwhile, the crowding has triggered sharp political responses. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami slammed DMK govt for opening Kilambakkam without proper planning. "People are still suffering one and a half years after the new terminus opened. The govt couldn't even ensure basic bus availability," he said. TVK's Nirmal Kumar also criticised the "hurried opening" of the terminus, calling it a failure in transport connectivity. "From day 1, passengers have struggled to even reach Kilambakkam. On June 4, people waited with infants for hours, and the govt blamed festival restrictions to mask its mismanagement," he said.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
No arch, no job: Tamil Nadu transport department says no driver jobs for flat-footed candidates, cites reasons
As bus-related road accidents rise in Tamil Nadu , the state transport department has decided to take a closer look, at the driver's feet. According to a TOI report, drivers with flat feet (a condition called pes planus) will now be disqualified from applying to drive for any of the state's eight transport corporations. There are currently 3,274 driver vacancies, including 364 in Chennai's Metropolitan Transport Corporation ( MTC ) and 318 in the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC). Drivers in these services often work long shifts and take on overnight journeys. People with flat feet lack an arch in the foot, meaning the entire sole touches the ground. This leads to overpronation, where the ankle rolls inwards too much, affecting how the legs align. Doctors from medical boards responsible for certifying drivers say that flat-footed individuals have slower reaction times while braking. Constant use of pedals in such cases causes strain to travel up to the knees, hips and lower back, as drivers shift their posture to avoid discomfort. This ongoing stress, doctors say, may result in joint pain and slower reflexes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo 'Over time, the way the foot works with the pedal changes, especially during long driving hours or when sudden braking is needed,' said orthopaedic doctor Dr D Siddharth, as quoted by TOI. Professional drivers, unlike casual ones, need strong arch support for fast and accurate footwork across hours. Live Events This is a serious concern for MTC and SETC, where drivers rely on pedal control for extended periods. 'If a driver has flat feet, their control and quick reaction can be affected,' said a senior official from the Institute of Road Transport, which helped draft the new rules. Doctors say special shoe inserts called orthotics can help improve response time and reduce tiredness, but there's no official policy yet. While flat feet affect about 3% of adults in Tamil Nadu, more so in those with obesity, no other Indian state has added it as a reason to reject driver candidates. 'This is the first time they're considering biomechanics while hiring,' said S D Kamaraj of the TN Stop Corruption Federation. 'But in reality, such checks are often skipped. Let's hope the process is fair and transparent this time.' Inputs from TOI
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- New Indian Express
SETC buses going via ECR may be moved to Anna Nagar West depot from CMBT
CHENNAI: As part of efforts to reduce congestion in the city by phasing out the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) in Koyambedu, officials from Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and transport department are planning to relocate long-distance mofussil and SETC buses operating via East Coast Road (ECR) to the Anna Nagar West depot. At present, the CMBT operates 592 buses, with 400 scheduled to be moved to Kuthambakkam. Officials added that the remaining 142 mofussil buses and 50 SETC buses will also need to be relocated to a new facility to fully phase out the CMBT. The CMBT, which was built in 2002 at a cost of Rs 102 crore, spans 37 acres of land and has been operational for over two decades. Official sources attached to CMDA and transport department told TNIE that the new Kuthambakkam bus terminus, situated near Thirumazhisai along the Chennai-Bengaluru bypass, is nearing completion. Built at a cost of `427 crore, it is expected to be inaugurated by August or September. Once operational, TNSTC and SETC buses serving destinations such as Vellore, Krishnagiri, Walajah, Hosur, Tirupattur, and Bengaluru will be shifted from CMBT to the Kuthambakkam facility. This will leave CMBT with only a limited number of services to Puducherry, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and a few other locations. These remaining buses are also slated for relocation, with the Anna Nagar West depot being a key option under consideration, said an official.
