Bus Facilities in India

[sajiv]

More CNG buses on cards

Body to focus on switching over to bio-fuel

Plan to embrace 'auto transmission' technology

TIRUPATI: The Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU), a conglomerate of 61 transport corporations in the country, has decided to press into service more buses running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

The body also decided to lay essential focus on switching over to bio-fuel and ethanol to achieve the twin objectives of fuel conservation and environment protection. The two-day meeting of ASRTU's standing committee on Technical and Stores, which began here on Monday, discussed issues like procurement of stores and garage products, testing of material and adoption of new systems among other things, with the objective of improving the quality of the final product and as well address passenger comfort. APSRTC Executive Director and the standing committee Chairman U.Sudhakara Rao presided over the meeting in which the association's Executive Director T.V.Subba Reddy, member-secretary S.A. Selva Kumar, Director of Pune-based Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) R.Balasubramanian, APSRTC Executive Director B.S.R. Murthy and others discussed the need to introduce CNG buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), which has a major allocation for the urban transport component. The members felt that bio-diesel could be used as an alternative fuel only when the price of diesel goes up alarmingly, given its supply, while ethanol is still under trial.

Another decision that is expected to provide a major relief to the commuters of city buses is the plan to embrace 'auto transmission' technology. The new system will have no clutches and the gears are automatically shifted depending on the speed, thus reducing driver fatigue and breakdown rate. It is estimated that the breakdown percentage can be brought down from 0.1 to 0.006 and the productivity enhanced, with the elimination of clutch and the reduced strain on the gearbox.

A. K. Srivastava (Uttar Pradesh), B.L.Gupta (Rajasthan), B.C.Ramesh (North East Karnataka), Chinna Basappa (Bangalore Metro Transport Corporation), B.C. Nayak (Orissa), P.B. Hynnienta (Meghalaya), G.Khaitan (Maharashtra) and Mukkanna (Karnataka) represented the respective corporations.

[sajiv]

Rickety buses

After the introduction of deluxe buses, the ordinary buses are plying only to rural areas. It is felt that all the condemned buses are serving rural areas. Seats in some of the buses do not have bottom and back cushion. Nails are protruding where there is one. Many people prefer travelling as standees. One does not understand how fitness certificates were given to such buses. The government has raised the bus fare to an abysmal level to offset losses though the cost of fuel has gone down. As in the Railways, it is high time the State Government placed suggestion boxes in all buses so that the public can voice their grievances. There must be a separate cell to take necessary action to redress the grievances.
S. S. Subramanian,Anna Nagar

Noise pollution
Pollution Control Board, it seems, is exercising its power unduly on various professionals. It has conveniently forgotten the fact that there is a different entity called 'noise pollution' caused by politicians at the time of elections. Being an autonomics body, it should specify the level up to which politicians can make noise during their campaign. Offenders should be punished without fear or favour.
M. Selvaraj,Madurai

Sand on road
The accumulation of sand on either side of Sivaganga Road between Melamadai Signal and Gomathipuram 6th Main Road junction poses a grave threat to two-wheeler and bicycle riders. Removal of sand is important to avert accidents.
BBC Chandrasekar,Madurai

Bill boards
People are subjected to untold miseries due to power cut. The Electricity Board is all too generous to supply electricity to illuminated advertisement boards erected on medians. Several small industries are under the verge of closure due to power cuts. But power failure does not affect a powerful politician to celebrate his birthday. Billboards and giant portraits of politicians mar the cityscape and causes revulsion towards them. It is better that the politician and his followers understand that these posters will bring 1,000 negative votes to their party.
K.M. Selvam,Madurai

Busy junction
Groups of people standing on bus stops and near shops at Iyer Bungalow junction on Natham Road is causing hindrance to smooth flow of traffic. As it is junction of several roads, either a flyover or automatic traffic signal is needed at this point to avoid traffic congestion.
A. Vivekanantham,Tiruppalai

Barricades
The recently placed barricades at two places on Theni Road in P. P. Chavadi cause much hindrance to smooth movement of vehicles, especially during the peak hours. Recently, I witnessed an accident due to sudden brake applied by a car near the barricade in which a car was partly crushed between a private bus and a government bus. Head-on collision is also possible while vehicles manoeuvre between the barricades. Such barricades must be placed near check-posts and not in a heavy traffic region.

The authorities are requested to place these barricades on the middle rom Kalavasal junction to Mudakkusalai to separate the road as in Bypass Road and also clear roadside encroachments.
S. SrinivasanP.P. Chavadi

Pensioner's travail
I retired from Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry Services and extending social service as secretary of Madurai City Senior Citizens Forum. Of late, I find a lethargic attitude of staff at Madurai district treasury as well as SBI Vinayaga Nagar branch. If I deposit a demand draft of the same bank, they take three days to give credit at district treasury. They do not authorise ten percent of D.A. rise to the pensioners in time. I remind the staffers that one day they will also become retirees. themselves
T. Arunachalam,Madurai

[sajiv]

Two-way traffic system to be restored in and around Ashok Pillar

CHENNAI: The traffic police have decided to restore two-way traffic system in Ashok Nagar with effect from Saturday morning. The decision to revert follows representations from the residents since the introduction of one way system in the area in December 2007.

They residents have been voicing concern over the problems faced, particularly by senior citizens, pedestrians and children in the area, which includes hospitals.

Residents elated
The decision to permit two-way traffic again in and around Ashok Pillar is bound to bring relief to the people of area, said V. Ravichandran, president, Citizens Guardian, a voluntary organisation fighting for removal of the one-way system.

He said: "With several public utilities, including a Regional Transport Office, hospitals and post offices located in and around Ashok Pillar, the one-way system caused severe hardship to the people." He said the one-way system exposed the road users, particularly pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheeler riders to safety hazards. Speeding by heavy vehicles and rash driving by three wheelers had become a major problem.

Giving details of the traffic changes from Saturday, a press release from the police said vehicles coming from Vadapalani side would be permitted to take left, right turns or go straight at the Ashok Pillar junction.

While Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses can take a right turn to reach Udayam, mofussil buses should go straight on the 1st Avenue and turn right into 11th Avenue to take a left at the Regional Transport Office signal to proceed towards the flyover near

Kasi theatre.
Vehicles coming from Udayam Theatre junction would be allowed to proceed on 10th Avenue to reach West Mambalam. They would also be allowed to take a left or right at the Ashok Pillar junction.

Vehicles from West Mambalam would be allowed to take left or right turn at the Ashok Pillar junction. They can also go straight and take a free left at the Udayam theatre junction. Vehicles coming from 1st Avenue to the junction would be allowed to take left, right and go straight.

Vehicles from Anna Main Road would be allowed to proceed straight towards Ashok Pillar or take a right turn towards the RTO signal. A free left turn into Anna Main Road would be available for vehicles, including MTC buses, coming from the flyover. They can also take a right turn to go towards Ashok Pillar.

MTC buses from the flyover have to take the 11th Avenue and 1st Avenue to reach Ashok Pillar junction. Mofussil buses proceeding to Koyambedu would be routed through Udhayam Theatre junction and drop the passengers in front of Fire Service Station and proceed by taking a free left at Ashok Pillar junction.

Vehicles coming from 11th Avenue can take a free left to reach the Kasi Theatre signal. They would also be allowed to go straight towards Bharathidasan Colony or take right turn for K.K. Nagar. Vehicles coming from Bharathidasan Colony would be allowed to go straight, and turn left or right.

[sajiv]

Corporation bus running late

KOCHI: Kochiites will have to wait a few more months to travel in low-floor air-conditioned buses. With the election code of conduct in force, the city transport project of the civic body assisted by the Central Government is being delayed.

The project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) was expected to take off in July. However, the Corporation could not start even the initial proceedings as the election was announced soon after the Union Ministry of Urban Development gave its final nod for the project.

"There will be a delay in starting the bus service,'' said Deputy Mayor C K Manisankar.

"Besides the delay due to the election, the copy of the order sanctioning the project is yet to come. The Corporation can take steps only after getting it. Since the code of conduct is in force, even minor work like canal cleaning and road reconstruction is being carried out after getting clearance from the Election Commission,'' Manisankar said.

A company, with the Corporat i o n and the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) as stake holders, has to be formed to manage the bus service. The KSRTC has invited tenders for purchasing the buses, said the Deputy Mayor.

The project is to purchase 200 luxury lowfloor buses, including some mini-buses, for a mass rapid transport system in the city.

The detailed project report (DPR) was prepared by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC). The Rs 250 cr project was given to Kochi considering the 10-lakh plus population in the city and suburbs. Mayor Mercy Williams and Corporation Secretary Mini Antony are going to New Delhi this week to hold discussions with officials on the development projects of Kochi.

[sajiv]

Bus fare cut with eye on polls, says PMK

CHENNAI: The Pattali Makkal Katchi on Thursday complained that bus fares had been reduced with an eye on the elections.

In a statement, party founder S.Ramadoss contended that the fare would be restored to the original level once the elections were over.

"Such sudden measures will not prevent the defeat of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam."

Urging the Election Commission not to remain a mute spectator, Dr.Ramadoss said if the Commission, which had been very strict in other States, did not pull up the State government, this would create doubts in the minds of people. He wanted the Commission to transfer the Vellore Collector and police officers.

[sajiv]

New circular bus routes from today

HYDERABAD: To meet the growing transporting needs of commuters, two new circular routes have been introduced with effect from May 1, APSRTC said in a press release.

Services
Bus route No. 14P/16P that will travel from Secunderabad Station will go via Mettuguda, New Bridge, Lalaguda, Santhinagar, Lalapet, Railway Quarters, Old Malkajgiri, Malkajgiri, Mirjalguda, New Bridge and Mettuguda, while bus route No. 16P/14P will start from Secunderabad station and go via Mettuguda, New Bridge, Mirjalguda, Malkajgiri, Old Malkajgiri, Railway Quarters, Lalapet, Santhinagar, Lalaguda, New Bridge and Mettuguda before reaching Secunderabad station, the release said.

Frequency
Four buses will operate on each route with a frequency of 11 minutes, the release added.

While the first trip starts at 5.46 a.m., the last trip is scheduled at 9.53 p.m.

[dwarakesh]

Special buses

MADURAI: Special buses will be operated from Melur, Alagarkoil, Alanganallur, Vadipatti, Sholavandan, Chekkanoorani, Kariapatti and

Tiruppuvanam to Periyar Bus Stand on May 8. Special services will be operated from Periyar Bus Stand and Tirumangalam to Tirupparankundram

on that day in view of 'girivalam' undertaken by devotees, according to a release from Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai Division).

[ganeshbala]

New bus lounge at Chennai airport

A new 960 sq m bus lounge has been constructed at the international terminal of the Chennai Airport, complete with a glass elevator, escalators and staircase.

This ground level and first level lounge has been constructed for international passengers who disembark from the plane at a distance from the arrival terminal, and have to go through a spiraling ram corridor to clear their immigration and other formalities. The international terminal has only five aero bridges that directly connect passengers to the terminal housing the immigration area. However, there is no aero-bridge for a sixth plane, and passengers have to walk all the way to immigration from the remote corner.

They have to wait longer intervals to be picked up by the buses. 

Whether the facility will be used for a simultaneous entry and exit of passengers will be worked out depending on the handling agencies.

The bus lounge mainly frees the arrival and departing passengers of the weather hardships, apart from creating more space for them to relax. The lounge will be functional from Wednesday.

[dwarakesh]

Special buses

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation will operate special buses from May 7 to 9 to Tiruvannamalai in view of the Chitra Pournami festival,

from Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Hosur and Attur.

[sajiv]

Bus operators threaten to stop services

KOLLAM: Private bus operators in the district have threatened to stop operating services from next month if the City Corporation continues to prevent buses to operate from the Chinnakada clock tower bus stand.

This was announced at a press conference here on Saturday by Lawrence Babu, general secretary of the Quilon District Private Bus Operators Association.

He said the bus stand in question was closed in December last year to facilitate the construction of an underpass through the Chinnakada overbridge. Following the closure, the bus operators were asked to use the facility at the Andamukham private bus stand situated a little away from Chinnakada.

The change has created a lot of hardship to the travelling public. The closure of the clock tower bus stand has virtually resulted in passengers losing a convenient point at Chinnakada to board buses bound for Kottiyam, Eravipuram and Mayyanad .

He said that even after a lapse of five months, the work on the underpass had not started.

[sajiv]

Internet bus in Mysore

MYSORE: The Google Internet Bus rolled into the city of palaces on Sunday as part of the Karnataka leg of its tour. The Internet Bus Project attempts to popularise the use of the Internet among people especially in rural areas.

Personnel associated with the project said that they were overwhelmed by the response from the public so far. The customised bus will reach Bangalore before covering Hassan, Ariskere, Shimoga, Bhadravathi, Chikkamagalur, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Hubli-Dharwad and Belgaum. The bus will be stationed in Mysore till late on Monday night. The bus is equipped with computer terminals, is Internet-enabled and has customised information to educate the public on accessing information and data, email and social networking sites among other features.

The Internet bus will be in Karnataka till the end of June and it will cover 15 towns. The route map of the Internet bus can be tracked on http://www.google.co.in/intl/en/landing/internetbus/.

[dwarakesh]

KSRTC inducts 30 Volvo 9400 series buses

Bangalore: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation  added more passenger-friendly, swanky buses to its fleet with the induction of 30 Volvo 9400 series buses here on Tuesday.

R. Ashok, Minister for Transport and chairperson of KSRTC and BMTC, along with KSRTC vice-chairperson Jaggesh, also launched the Integrated KSRTC-BMTC Daily Pass and inaugurated a control room.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Ashok said the Volvo buses (334 of them) were one of the reasons behind KSRTC's popularity among commuters.

The newly designed buses have four emergency exits and one emergency door provided on the right side, an LCD television, mobile and laptop charging points and more luggage space (10 cubic metres). The cost of each bus is Rs. 67 lakh.

It looks like Volvo buses will make their appearance in other states in the future.

[sajiv]

Signals coming up at 8 points on Velachery Main Road

TAMBARAM: As part of steps to improve riding conditions on Velachery Main Road, one of the most important arterial roads in the southern suburbs of Chennai, traffic signals are being installed at eight points.

Velachery Main Road (Marmalong Bridge Irumbuliyur Road in official parlance) is a 21-km-long State Highway No. 48 connecting Tambaram at Grand Southern Trunk Road and Saidapet via Velachery.

The entire stretch of this road was widened except for a few stretches owing to encroachments and land acquisition. Permanent, raised medians were provided between Velachery and Pallikaranai initially and now work is on to extend it between Medavakkam and Selaiyur.

However, congestion and frequent accidents at some of the important intersections continue to plague administrators of the Chennai Suburban Traffic Police. Last year, proposals were sent to the State government for installing automatic traffic signals with timers at some important spots, following which these facilities are now being installed at Camp Road junction, Rajakilpakkam, Madambakkam Road junction and at intersections in Medavakkam and Perumbakkam and also on the road leading to Mambakkam, in addition to a couple of more spots near Pallikaranai and Velachery.

Traffic police said that they were still waiting for government approval for installing a traffic signal on GST Road at the crucial spot at Peerkankaranai. Traffic police sources said that in 2008, 18 persons were killed and 62 injured on Velachery Main Road that comes within the Commissionerate limits and so far this year, 14 persons were killed and 59 injured in road accidents in different places.

They had identified Medavakkam, Santhoshapuram, Gowrivakkam and Camp Road Junction among others as the accident-prone spots on this road. Officials of the State Highways Department said that contrary to general public opinion that different government departments did not work in tandem for the common good, the improvement works on this road was an example of good support and coordination from different agencies.

While they carried out improvement works, including widening and building of permanent medians, local bodies pitched in by installing streetlights while traffic police provided traffic signals.

On Velachery Main Road, financially weaker local bodies such as Medavakkam village panchayat and Sembakkam town panchayat had contributed immensely to create street lighting, including provision of high-mast lamps.

[sajiv]

DTC to buy 1,000 semi-low floor buses

The government Monday gave the go ahead to Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to purchase 1,000 semi-low floor buses.

'The cabinet has given its nod for purchase of 1,000 semi-low floor buses to DTC to enable it to strengthen its city fleet. This is in addition to the earlier permission granted for purchase of 2,500 low-floor air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses,' Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

'Low-floor and semi-low floor buses have same features except floor height from the ground,' she said.

Dikshit said semi-low floor buses would cater to the needs of increasing number of passengers and provide relief to them.

'The DTC has been asked to expedite purchase of these buses,' said an official statement.

[sajiv]

Special buses on June 7

MADURAI: The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai Division) will operate special buses to Periyar Bus Stand from several points in the city and Melur, Alagarkoil, Alanganallur, Vadipatti, Sholavandan, Chekkanoorani, Kariapatti, Tirupuvanam and Varichiyur on June 7 for the benefit of pilgrims visiting Subramaniaswamy Temple at Tirupparankundram for 'girivalam.'

According to a TNSTC press release issued in the city on Monday, special services will also be operated to Tirupparankundram from Tirumangalam and Periyar Bus Stand.

[sajiv]

Special buses

SALEM: Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Salem division, will operate special buses from Salem for the Yercaud Summer Festival and Flower show, which is scheduled to be held from June 5 to 7.

Special buses will also be operated from Yercaud town to important tourist attractions like Boat House, Ladies Seat, Bagoda Point and Shevaroyan Temple.

[sajiv]

DU to launch bus for differently-abled

NEW DELHI: The Equal Opportunity Cell of Delhi University will launch a bus specially designed for the benefit of differently-abled students and faculty members this coming Monday near the office of the Dean of Students' Welfare on the North Campus at 11 a.m. The cell will also conduct an orientation programme for students with physical disabilities on Tuesday at the conference centre on the main campus around 11 a.m

[sajiv]

Bonalu special buses

The APSRTC will be introducing 25 special buses on Sunday and Monday in view of the Bonalu Jathara in old city, a press note said. The buses will run from Uppal,

Secunderabad, Kukatpally, Bolaram, Tarnaka, Dilshuknagar, Midhani, RTC X Roads, etc. The buses will display the 'Jathara special' boards.

[sajiv]

Special DTC bus service for lawyers

New Delhi: In a relief to lawyers, who have to commute from Central to South-west Delhi following the transfer of cases from Patiala House to Dwarka courts, the DTC has decided to run a special bus for them.

"The Delhi Transport Corporation has agreed to run a bus for lawyers on trial basis between Patiala House to Dwarka District courts here," secretary of New Delhi Bar Association Neeraj said.

"The trial service of the bus will start from July 20," he said.

[sajiv]

Changes in traffic at West Tambaram

TAMBARAM: The Chennai Suburban Traffic Police would be implementing certain traffic changes at West Tambaram from Monday. A press release said that it is being effected to decongest the market areas of West Tambaram, especially Abdul Razzak Street and Shanmugham Road.

From Monday, on Shanmugham Road, two-wheelers and cars will be allowed to park, on either side, on the stretch between Grand Southern Trunk Road and Siva Shanmugham Street. Ayyasamy Street and Ramaswamy Street will be made one-way, the release said.

[sajiv]

Fresh bid to relocate private bus stand

The shifting is necessary to ease traffic congestion

The sanctioned fund has been diverted to other projects

UAS says leasing the land will hinder research

Madikeri: There has been significant delay in shifting the congested private bus stand from its current location to land belonging to the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS). The World Bank fund of Rs. 1.60 crore, sanctioned for the purpose, has already been diverted to other development works in the city.

However, a delegation headed by M.P. Appachu Ranjan, MLA, is slated to meet Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa in Bangalore in order to convey the urgent need to shift the private bus stand from its current location to ease traffic congestion. In May 2006, the Deputy Commissioner notified the acquisition of four acres of land under survey number 405/2 belonging to the UAS for the construction of the private bus stand. Four individuals, apart from the UAS, objected to the project. The estate officer of the UAS clarified in July 2006 that the land could not be released as it would hinder the educational and research activities of the UAS. The estate officer said that the UAS could, instead, release 2.45 acres of land adjacent to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) hostel.

The Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation authorities asked the district administration in January 2008 to obtain suitable land for the construction of the bus stand as soon as possible, lest funds are diverted for other purposes.

The World Bank stipulates that sanctioned funds should be used for the completion of projects within three years.

Efforts were made by former State Agriculture Minister T.B. Jayachandra to obtain suitable land to compensate for land to be appropriated for the bus stand. Elected representatives also did their bit to resolve the dispute.

The delegation in Bangalore to meet the Chief Minister comprises president of the Madikeri City Municipal Council P.D. Ponnappa, Commissioner Srikant Rao and other councillors.

[sajiv]

City buses in Khammam

KHAMMAM: Moves were afoot for introducing city bus services in towns such as Khammam, Karimnagar along with a few other district headquarter towns in the state. RTC chairman M. Satyanarayana Rao told mediapersons that the RTC had plans for extending improved services to people especially in rural areas.

[sajiv]

KOCHI: The Vytilla bus terminal project would become a reality unless "some unimaginable impediments prevent it from materialising," said Minister for Registration S. Sarma.

Speaking after inaugurating the development seminar of the Kochi Corporation here on Friday, Mr. Sarma said that a committee consisting of Ernakulam District Collector and the secretaries of the Revenue and Local Self Government departments has been asked to prepare a project report for the terminal.

Meeting
The meeting convened by the Chief Minister at Thiruvananthapuram on August 12 will discuss the proposal. There is the likelihood of the project becoming a reality as Kochi needs such a project for easing the traffic congestion, he said.

Regarding the Kochi Metro Railway project, Mr. Sarma said that individuals and commercial establishments should not stand in the way of the development projects. The larger interests of the society should be taken into account for projects like metro railway which would solve the traffic snarls in the city, he said.

Incidentally, a section of the traders had earlier opposed to the project passing through the MG Road.

The State government had appointed a Special Officer and allotted funds for meeting the establishment costs of setting up the project office in Kochi. Once the alignment of the project is finalised and the clearance of the Union cabinet is obtained, the project would be implemented, he said.

The travel along the chocked roads of the city has become a harrowing experience for the people and it has been causing mental tension and stress.

Many patients die on their way to the hospitals as the vehicles carrying them find it difficult to negotiate the city roads.

The metro railway and Vyttila bus terminal projects would address these issues to a considerable extent, he said.

[sajiv]

TNSTC to operate special buses to Tiruttani


VELLORE: The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC), Vellore, would be operating special buses to Tiruttani from Vellore, Tirupattur, Gudiyatham, Arcot, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Arakkonam, Ponneri, Uthukottai, Tiruvallur, Chittoor, Tirupathi, Tiruvannamalai and Arni from August 12 to 15 for the benefit of devotees participating in the Adi Krithigai festival to be held in the Sri Subramaniaswamy Temple, Tiruttani.
175 special buses

According to a release from the General Manager, TNSTC, Vellore Region, 175 special buses would be operated from Vellore, 40 buses each from Gudiyatham and Tirupattur, and 45 buses from Arcot on behalf of the Vellore region.

[sajiv]

Bus pass centres closed tomorrow

Computerised bus pass centres of APSRTC in twin cities will not function on Saturday on the eve of Independence Day. The following day being a Sunday, they will function from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., said an APSRTC press release. They will function as usual from Monday.

[sajiv]

AC bus stops mooted for BRTS project

VIJAYAWADA: The city would have a rare distinction in the entire country if an idea of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) materialises.

The VMC proposes to have air-conditioned (AC) bus stops for the proposed Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project. No other city in the country, including Ahmedabad and Delhi where BRTS project is being implemented, have AC bus stops.
BOT basis

Official sources say that Prakash Arts, the leading outdoor advertising agency, has been given the contract for designing the bus stops for BRTS project. The contract is awarded on Build Own Transfer (BOT) basis. The agency would generate revenue by using the interiors and exteriors of bus stop for advertising purposes. The first phase of the BRTS project will have 31 bus stops – each at a distance of 500 metres – and 17 traffic junctions.

The sources say that the corporation is contemplating constructing at least half of the bus stops with AC facility.

Prakash Ads reportedly gave three designs to the corporation, and they are pending approval.

While an AC bus stop is likely to cost anywhere between Rs. 14 lakhs and Rs. 16 lakhs, an ordinary bus stop would cost between Rs. 8 lakhs and Rs. 10 lakhs.

[sajiv]

Bus stand opening issue turning into controversy

MYSORE: It appears that the issue over commissioning of the city bus-stand which is being modernised under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) is snowballing into a controversy with Mayor Purushottam threatening to inaugurate it on September 19 when the Dasara festivities begin.

Though Minister in-charge of Mysore district Shobha Karandlaje and the JnNURM office here had asked the KSRTC to complete the work and keep the bus-stand ready for opening on September 15, Minister for Transport R. Ashoka, who inspected the bus stand recently, said that it could not be opened before September 15 as 40 more days were needed to complete the work.

Even as the Transport Minister's statement brought relief to the KSRTC authorities, who wanted more time to complete the Rs. 10-crore project, the Mayor's statement has come as a shock to them. He is learnt to be mobilising support for inaugurating the bus stand on September 15 if it is not commissioned on that day by the authorities concerned.

The Mayor told The Hindu that many commuters met him during his inspection of the bus-stand and expressed their disappointment over the delay in its opening.

"In my view, 90 per cent of the work has been completed and the rest is progressing well. I do not see any reason for the delay in its commissioning when the bus stand is almost ready," the Mayor said.

[sajiv]

Online mapping of MTC routes

CHENNAI: A group of students have come together to map Chennai's bus routes and make it available online, an initiative aimed at helping commuters, particularly those new to the city.

You no longer have to go to a bus stop to find out if there is a bus available from there to a particular destination. Just log on to the Internet and type a few characters to get all the information. The online project (http://busroutes.in/chennai/) which is completely open-source, provides a virtual public transport network of the city.

"There are plans to integrate the suburban train network and share autorickshaw routes," says Arun Ganesh, a student at the National Institute of Design, who is coordinating the initiative.

"There is a need for a centralised database of public transport. Provide them better information so that they can shift to a public mode of transport with ease," he says.

A lot of data about public transportation system is available, but it is all personal. The idea behind the project is to 'crowd source' information from people who use the bus routes and make it easier to visualise and browse through all that data. Rabin Vincent, who has worked on the site, says, "The Metropolitan Transport Corporation website has stage-wise route information, but it is inaccessible to search engines and not user-friendly. Information needs to be more easily available to search engines, and by extension, to the people looking for it."

Solutions for issues that the community faces are best dealt through open collaboration, feel the students who were involved in the mapping project; which is why the OpenStreet mapping protocol was used.

Arun Ganesh admits that five to 10 per cent of routes have errors. "The primary data from the MTC has bus stops with names such as 'tea kadai' and 'water tank.' It is difficult to map these stops. But then, the code is entirely open-source. Anybody can take it and work on it."

The way forward for the project, according to Yuvaraj Pandian, a second year engineering student, is to incorporate frequency data and multi-point routes which would give switching points from one bus to another.

[sajiv]

Special SETC buses to Tirupati

CHENNAI: The State Express Transport Corporation will operate special services in view of the Brahmotsavam at Tirupati. An official release stated that the specials would be operated from Chennai, Tiruchi, Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai and Puducherry from Saturday to September 29 for the convenience of pilgrims. The Corporation was providing reservation facilities for both onward and return journeys.

[sajiv]

Bus service to Tambaram

There are no direct buses plying from the SRMC, via Porur, Valasarawakkam, Virugambakkam, Vadapalani, to Tambaram.

If MTC authorities make necessary arrangements, it would be useful

K. Ravi

Alwar Thirunagar
Need for overbridge

This refers to the traffic jam that often happens in front of the State Bank of India's Guindy branch owing to the pedestrian crossing nearby. Buses coming from Tambaram are piling up on the Kathipara Junction flyover for over 10 minutes during rush hour.

Hence it is requested that a pedestrian overbridge be constructed near the bank branch to solve the problem.

C. Vallinayagam

Keelkattalai
Scarcity of Aavin butter

It is highly appreciated that Aavin is bringing out various products of its own every now and then. Its festive season sweets package is a feather to its cap. However, less attention is paid to supply of butter to the consumers. Acute scarcity prevails in the city as a whole, particularly around Mylapore, where Aavin butter consumption is high. In any of the parlours and depots, butter is not available. It is, therefore, requested that necessary remedial measures be taken to ensure good supply of Aavin butter, in view of the oncoming festival season.

R. Mahadevan

Mylapore
Bus shelter required

Bus shelter in front of the Udhayam theatre towards K.K. Nagar and on the side towards Guindy is badly required, more particularly before the onset of the northeast monsoon, as big as the one in Ambal Nagar, Ekkaduthangal. I am sure this suggestion would be most welcomed by at lest nine out of 10 persons, if any survey is undertaken.

N. Krishnan

K.K. Nagar
Improve postal delivery

The services of postmen in our area are not up to our expectations. They deliver letters to us, which are, in fact, not for us. Perhaps letters for us may be delivered to some other addresses. I hope that authorities concerned will look into the matter.

P.A.Ranganathan

Mandaveli
Restore 52-E bus services

For the benefit of commuters of Chromepet (East), the MTC was operating 52-E service between Chennai-Broadway and Chromepet-Nemilicherry. The route was introduced a decade ago. The MTC operated two buses on this route. But , one bus was withdrawn as there was no patronage. And the existing service too was stopped due to underground drainage work on the Nemelicherry High Road. The drainage work has been completed and the road re-laid. But, the 52-E route bus is yet to be restored. In the absence of MTC bus, the commuters are fleeced by autorickshaw drivers.

We appeal to the MTC authorities to immediately restore the 52-E bus service and save the public from exploitation.

V. Santhanam

Chromepet
Power supply interruption

For the last two months, parts of some streets in the Choolai area A.P. Road First Lane, A.P. Road Second Lane, V. V. Koil Lane and Manicka Chetty Street are subjected to daily interruption of power supply during daytime and night time, most often after 10 p.m.

When power supply fails in one phase, there is severe drop in voltage in the other phase with tubelights switching off, and there are violent fluctuations in voltage of yet another phase with tubelights switching off and on. This is followed by failure of supply in other two phases also.

, The power supply resumes after a long interruption.

Yet no sincere efforts seem to have been made to rectify the condition.

V. Rajasekaran

Choolai
Cenotaph road flyover

For almost two years now, ever since the Chamiers Road was declared one-way with entries barred from the Nandanam signal towards Mylapore and to Venkatnarayana Road to T. Nagar, the residents of Nandanam Extension and adjoining areas have been subjected to extreme inconvenience.

Both Mylapore and T. Nagar are not far off from here but now they have been thrown far away. Buses 41-D and 12-C, which were the only two routes available to these people for returning from Mylapore, no more ply here and get diverted at TTK Road, St. Mary's Road point with a stop at the five-star hotel which is quite a distance to walk to reach Nandanam. Autorikshaw drivers are fleecing commuters a lot as they have to take circuitous roads to reach Nandanam.

Likewise T. Nagar and Teynampet, which are close to Nandanam, have receded in distance. I wonder whether any other area has suffered so much inconvenience.

I would appeal to the authorities to restore the two-way access to Chamiers Road after completion of the Cenotaph flyover work. T. Santhanam

Nandanam
D.P.I. campus

D.P.I. campus is situated on the College Road. It is one of the well-maintained campuses by the State PWD.

On this campus, several State Directorate Offices connected with the Education Department, Pension Pay Office and several other State offices including one post-office and an IOB branch are functioning. Daily thousands of people and students are visiting this campus to get information from the Directorate of College Education, Government Examinations, etc. On the campus, there is no canteen and also no private xerox outlet. For these two amenities, people go outside this campus.

May we request the authorities to provide these two amenities on this campus?

D. Dasaratharaman

Choolaimadu

[sajiv]

VILLUPURAM: Collector R. Palanisamy has warned private bus operators against collecting excess fare, over and above the rates fixed.
At a meeting of bus operators convened here on Saturday, he said that complaints were received online about collection of excess fare by private operators. If the operators did not fall in line, action would be taken against them under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Mr. Palanisamy called upon commuters to inform the Regional Transport Officer about any infringement of traffic rules, either in person or at 04146—223626.