Transport Department Tells Omni Bus Operators to Stick to Court-Approved Pick-Up Points
Transport Commissioner Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan on Thursday directed private omni bus operators to strictly pick up passengers only from designated spots in Porur, Surapet, and Madhavaram, in accordance with Madras High Court orders aimed at curbing traffic congestion in the city.
The directive was issued during a coordination meeting held in Chennai to streamline bus operations and ease commuter congestion on key arterial roads. The meeting was attended by representatives of private bus operators alongside senior officials from the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC).
The discussions follow nearly three months after the Madras High Court set aside a previous order by the transport commissioner. That earlier order had restricted omni buses heading toward the southern districts exclusively to the Kilambakkam bus terminus, while prohibiting them from entering Chennai city limits.
In its order dated June 7, the Madras High Court laid out an interim arrangement permitting operators to pick up passengers from three specific city locations: Porur, Surapet, and Madhavaram. A transport department official noted that bus operators have now been instructed to strictly limit their pick-up activities to these court-permitted locations and ensure that their boarding operations do not trigger traffic jams.
Omni bus operators, however, voiced concerns over infrastructure and connectivity issues. All Omni Bus Owners Association president A. Anbalagan, who attended Thursday's meeting, stated that the state government should first ensure adequate public transport connectivity to Kilambakkam before enforcing operational restrictions on omni buses.
Bus operators also flagged the lack of adequate civic and transit facilities at both Kilambakkam and Mudichur. Furthermore, operators pointed out that omni buses bound for western districts continue to operate from the terminus in Koyambedu, calling for consistent planning and better connectivity across terminals.
