GCC Signs Deal to Build 11 AC Bus Shelters Across Chennai, Including Velachery

The Greater Chennai Corporation has signed agreements to establish air-conditioned bus shelters at 11 busy transit points across Chennai, including the Vijay Nagar Bus Terminus in Velachery. The pilot project will be developed using corporate social responsibility funds.

Seven companies signed Memoranda of Understanding with the civic body on Tuesday in the presence of GCC Commissioner GS Sameeran and Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj.

Under the initiative, the new facilities will feature enclosed, air-conditioned waiting areas built with toughened or laminated safety glass. Each shelter will be equipped with drinking water facilities, free Wi-Fi access, mobile charging points, accessible ramps, bus route information displays, CCTV cameras, and emergency panic buttons.

The 11 designated locations are Vijay Nagar Bus Terminus in Velachery, DMS on Anna Salai, Mylapore Bus Stand, Jawaharlal Nehru Road in Vadapalani, Vadapalani Bus Stand near SIMS Hospital (incoming), SIMS Hospital (outgoing), Little Mount, Guindy, Avichi School on Arcot Road, Alandur Metro, and Egmore on both north and south sides.

In the first phase, agreements were finalized with Apollo Hospitals, Kauvery Hospital, Guru Nanak College, SIMS Hospital, Rohini Hotels, SRM Prime Hospital, and Freyer International Logistics. The participating entities will construct and maintain the shelters and deploy a security guard at each facility. In return, the companies will be permitted to display advertisements at the shelters without paying civic charges.

GCC Commissioner GS Sameeran stated that the project is part of broader corporation efforts to modernize bus stops in locations with high passenger footfall. Larger shelters are planned for areas such as Anna Square, while other sites are slated for modern non-air-conditioned shelters.

The corporation is also exploring public-private partnerships to construct foot overbridges across the city. It has identified 56 prospective locations and is currently preparing detailed feasibility reports for 10 of them.