Chennai special buses for passengers travelling during the Ayudha Pooja holiday period will operate from multiple terminals and temporary stands across the city, with routes divided according to destination. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Department has announced services from five locations to manage the seasonal rush and reduce confusion for passengers travelling to towns across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.
The Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus at Kilambakkam will handle services to several southern and western Tamil Nadu destinations through the Tindivanam route. These include Villupuram, Ulundurpet, Virudhachalam, Tittakudi, Tirukoilur, Kallakurichi, Salem and Coimbatore.
Buses from the main Kilambakkam terminus will also serve the Cuddalore region, including Panruti, Neyveli, Vadalur, Chidambaram and Kattumannarkoil. Services to Puducherry, Cuddalore and Chidambaram will also be available from the relevant boarding points at the terminus. Southern Tamil Nadu routes include Tiruchy, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur and Sengottai, while other services will connect passengers to Dindigul, Palani and Pollachi.
A temporary bus stand near the CMDA Climate Park at Kilambakkam will operate services via Guindy. Passengers travelling to Tiruvannamalai, Polur, Chetpet and Vandavasi have been advised to check whether their buses depart from this temporary location rather than the main Kilambakkam terminus.
The temporary bus stand at Maraimalai Nagar will operate services to key destinations in the Cauvery delta region on a trial basis. Buses from this location will connect passengers to Kumbakonam, Nagapattinam and Thanjavur. Free connecting buses will run between the MTC bus terminus at Kilambakkam and the Maraimalai Nagar temporary stand, allowing passengers to reach the separate boarding point.
The Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Bus Terminus at Koyambedu will handle services to destinations along the East Coast Road, including Puducherry, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam and Velankanni. It will also operate buses to Kancheepuram, Vellore, Hosur, Bengaluru, Tiruttani and Tirupati.
The distribution of services across multiple locations means that passengers will need to verify their boarding point before leaving home. Kilambakkam will serve much of southern and western Tamil Nadu, including Madurai, Tirunelveli, Salem and Coimbatore. The temporary Kilambakkam stand will serve Tiruvannamalai, Polur, Chetpet and Vandavasi, while Maraimalai Nagar will handle Kumbakonam, Nagapattinam and Thanjavur services.
Passengers travelling to ECR destinations, Puducherry, Velankanni, Vellore, Bengaluru and Tirupati should check whether their tickets specify Koyambedu. The transport department has advised travellers to confirm bus timings, ticket details and boarding locations before departure and to reach the designated terminal well ahead of their scheduled journey.
