Widespread chaos on Day 1 of Broadway bus terminus closure

Chennai: Confusion prevailed among MTC commuters on Saturday, when operations shifted from the Broadway bus terminus to Island Grounds and Royapuram. People and vendors who came to the wholesale markets in Flower Bazaar and NSC Bose Road were left without transport options.Senior citizens, unaware of the terminus shifting for redevelopment by Chennai Metro Rail Limited, argued with MTC staff and traffic police stationed at Broadway to divert passengers. Office goers such as C Irene complained that they had to spend an additional 100 on autorickshaws to reach their workplaces, as buses were short-terminated at Island Grounds.
The relocation, initially scheduled for Jan 5, was postponed to Saturday. Transport minister S S Sivasankar inaugurated the temporary bus shelters at Island Grounds and Royapuram on Friday. Of the 841 buses previously operated from Broadway, 526 now ply from Island Grounds and 355 from Royapuram.MTC general manager (operations) S Nedunzeshian said buses were barred from using NSC Bose Road on the advice of traffic police due to potential congestion. Commuters could alight at nearby bus stops around the terminus, he added. Commuters, however, said there was no clarity on where exactly the buses would halt near Broadway. "MTC should set up a stop near Raja Annamalai Mandram–TNPSC Road junction, as it would help people walk easily to Broadway," said R Boopalan, a civic activist from North Chennai. He also urged MTC to send SMS alerts about major terminus shifts and related arrangements, as not everyone follows social media updates.Many commuters were also dissatisfied with the facilities at the new termini. For instance, S Murugan of Tiruvanmiyur said the bus shelters at Island Grounds had minimal roofing and seating. "Another issue is that Rapido and Ola services are not readily available here since the place is somewhat isolated from the main road. It affects last-mile connectivity," he added.