Chennai Commuters Face Transport Woes in Chromepet Area
Thousands of daily commuters in Chennai's Chromepet area are struggling with serious transportation problems. They face long waiting times, overcrowded buses, and poor last-mile connectivity to their neighborhoods.
Inadequate Bus Frequency Causes Major Disruptions
The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) is providing inadequate frequency on key routes. This disrupts travel to surrounding neighborhoods including Hasthinapuram, Pozhichalur, Pammal, and Padappai.
While travel from Chennai to Chromepet, Tambaram, or Perungalathur remains convenient with multiple public transport options, connectivity beyond these key points breaks down completely. The real problems begin when commuters reach railway stations.
Hour-Long Waits for Basic Transportation
In Chromepet specifically, passengers wait at least one hour to catch a bus to Hasthinapuram. This affects routes 66A from Kundrathur and 52-H from Pozhichalur particularly badly.
The situation mirrors itself on the Perungalathur side via Camp Road. Areas like Selaiyur, Agaramthen, Thiruvanchery, and Mappedu experience similar transportation gaps.
Residents Forced into Costly, Unsafe Alternatives
Many passengers have no choice but to rely on share autos for their daily commute. This significantly increases their travel costs while raising serious safety concerns.
V Santhanam, a Chromepet resident and activist, explained the situation clearly. "Share autos provide last-mile connectivity," he said. "But they are poorly regulated and dangerously overcrowded. Operating more mini buses would reduce this congestion effectively."
Residents Demand Immediate Improvements
Another resident, V S Jayaraman, voiced the community's frustration. "MTC should increase bus frequency connecting interior areas immediately," he insisted. "Just two buses per hour would cut waiting time by thirty minutes. We sent complaints to MTC officials, but nobody responded to our concerns."
MTC Management Responds to Grievances
MTC managing director T Prabhushankar addressed these transportation issues directly. "Our department actively manages all bus routes," he stated. "Only route 66A currently operates at forty-minute intervals. This bus was introduced due to popular demand and wasn't originally part of MTC's route network."
Prabhushankar offered some hope for improvement. "Now that residents have raised this grievance formally, we will monitor the frequency closely," he promised. "We are committed to improving service on this route."
The transportation crisis in Chromepet highlights broader urban mobility challenges facing Chennai's expanding suburbs. Commuters continue hoping for reliable, affordable public transport solutions that don't force them into overcrowded, expensive alternatives.
