More than 11,300 buses from Chennai to various parts of the State will be operated to address the demand during Deepavali this year. The state transport department will be operating these buses from 6 bus terminals across the city – Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Bus Terminus (CMBT) in Koyambedu, Tambaram Sanatorium, Tambaram railway station bus stop, the newly inaugurated Madhavaram bus terminus, Poonamallee and K.K. Nagar – to avoid congestion.

2,275 regular buses and 4,542 special buses would be operated daily from the city for three days from November 3 to 5, announced Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar.

“A total of 11,367 buses would be operated from the city and 9,200 buses from other districts,” Times of India reported the minister as saying. To address the post Deepavali demand by commuters returning to Chennai after the festival, 4,207 special buses would be operated between November 7 and 10 and 7,635 special buses would be operated between important places.

Much planning has been done to segregate the bus terminals to avoid congestion. Passengers bound for southern districts including Tiruvannamalai would have to take the buses from Koyambedu, and buses would be operated from the Tambaram Sanatorium to Kumbakonam and Thanjavur via Vikravandi and Panruti. Passengers bound for Kancheepuram, Cheyyar, Vellore, Arani and Hosur, should take buses from the Tambaram railway station bus stop. Commuters proceeding on the ECR to Puducherry can take buses from the K.K. Nagar bus terminus.

Special ticket counters will also be opened at the bus terminals during the festive season.