Call to introduce new bus routes within city

Trichy: Monday's induction of 40 new buses into TNSTC fleet of Trichy region will ensure easing of congestion on routes to various districts. But the transport corporation has been overlooking a long demand of city residents - introducing new bus routes within the city limit. Areas like EB Road, Tennur and Anna Nagar are virtually disconnected from the city due to lack of public transport.
Trichy is emerging as one of the steadily growing cities in the state in recent years. Many areas on the outskirts of the city were annexed by the Trichy Corporation, giving rise to the demand for new bus routes but in vain.
Coordinator of the Trichy Welfare Association N Ramakrishnan said, "Most buses starting from Central Bus Stand ply either through Cantonment, Thillai Nagar and Salai Road or take the Palakkarai route to reach Chatram. This has been the major cause for not introducing new bus routes in the city."
Situation is no different in suburban areas like Kajah Malai where there are a number of colleges but inadequate public transport facility.
"Share autos are having a field day in suburban areas as there is poor public transport facility," said Mahesh Kumar, a resident of K K Nagar.
"While over 15 autos are plying between Central Bus Stand and E Pudur, there are over 30 share autos plying between Karumandapam and K K Nagar," Mahesh added.
Member of the District Road Safety Council M Sekaran said, "There has been a long demand to introduce bus services from Lalgudi to Samayapuram via Tollgate, Bypass, Sanjeev Nagar, Old Pal Pannai and Samayapuram. Though it would save over an hour, the request has not yet been considered."
At present, 147 private buses and 350 government buses are plying in major routes of the city.
A senior official of the RTO Trichy said, "TNSTC covers most parts of the city during peak hours. However, a few areas may have less frequency considering the revenue aspect."
Unlike other cities in the state, Trichy has a strong presence of private bus network. Though no new permits are being issued to ply on the routes in Trichy, private buses ply after renewing the old permits.
A senior official of the TNSTC said introducing new bus routes will be discussed based on public request. However most of the areas are being covered efficiently by the city buses, he added.
Trichy: Swaminathan Sastri Road near Thillai Nagar has gained prominence of late with much commercial activity. However, it is yet to get public transport connectivity.
Those coming to the place for shopping have to either walk on to Salai Road or reach Thillai Nagar through the cross streets to get a bus. The areas on either side of S Sastri Road have many textile outlets, food corners and offices. Further, 11 cross streets leading towards Thillai Nagar provide better avenues for shopping.
Areas on either side of Thillai Nagar buzzes with commercial activity and S Sastri road runs parallel to Thillai Nagar. As it has developed only in the recent years, S Sastri Road has not yet been considered for public transport connectivity.
Considering the bridge work being carried out near Puthur over the past few days, some buses take 11 cross street at S Sastri Road. This has created a temporary bus stand under the Tennur bridge.
"The bus stand should be made permanent as it would be helpful for those residing in Tennur and people coming for shopping," says a resident of Tennur R Mahalingam. People now have to walk to Thillai Nagar to get public transport, he said.
"Mofussil buses from Karur bypass road are taking S Sastri Road to reach the Central bus stands," said a member of the District Road Safety Council M Sekaran. While mofissil buses can be made to halt on S Sastri road, dedicated city buses may not be a wise option, he said.
"Lack of wide service roads on either side of Tennur roads makes it difficult to run buses on the route. Further, the temporary route via 11th cross in S Sastri Road cannot be made permanent as it has narrow cross streets, he said.