Will Kuthambakkam keep its promise of decluttering Koyambedu?

Will Kuthambakkam keep its promise of decluttering Koyambedu?

The plan of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to decongest the Koyambedu bus terminus has taken shape in part with the completion of the Madhavaram bus terminus for re-routing north-bound buses. The full re-routing plan will come to fruition only with the completion of the two other projects. The first is the Kilambakkam terminus that will host south-bound buses. It is in the final phase of construction. The second is the terminus at Kuthambakkam, near the Thirumazhisai industrial belt, which will take on the burden of west-bound buses. At Kuthambakkam, 60% of the civil work has been completed. The CMDA had planned to develop the satellite bus termini at Madhavaram, Kilambakkam and Kuthambakkam to segregate the operation of long-distance buses and reduce the traffic of heavy vehicles in the city.

The CMDA is building the terminus at Kuthambakkam in Tiruvallur district at a revised cost of ₹486 crore. It will have several amenities like the one being constructed at Kilambakkam. The CMDA had initially proposed an outlay of ₹307 crore, for which administrative sanction was accorded by the State government through a government order issued in September 2020. The government sanctioned 50% of the project cost under the Infrastructure and Amenities Fund and the rest is to be borne by the CMDA.

The Kuthambakkam terminus, coming up on the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway on over 25 acres, would have separate bays for long-distance buses, private omni-buses and Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses and car and two-wheeler parking lots.

A senior official of the CMDA said the terminus, in addition to the three-storey main terminal building, would have several blocks comprising an electricity sub-station, workshops for mofussil and MTC buses, public conveniences and sewage and effluent treatment plants. The main terminal (a third floor has been added to the original master plan of two basements, ground floor, mezzanine and first floors) will provide access to the three bus bays and house restaurants on the ground and mezzanine floors, ticket counters, time offices, medical centre, infant feeding room, cloak room, dormitory, control room, and an automated teller machine.

The terminus could accommodate 136 buses in the three bays. The CMDA has also provided for parking of 75 idle buses. The terminus would be one of its kind in which nearly 250 cars and 1,700 two-wheelers could be parked in the two basement lots.

The terminus would have over 25% of the 25 acres as green space, with landscaping done on a wide range. It would feature a rainwater collection tank networked with the storm water drain, three diesel generators (one 1010-kilo volt ampere (KVA) and two 500 KVA), a solar power system and a state-of-the-art public address system.

The senior official said one of the highlights would be the toilets for commuters, bus crew members and administrative staff. Public conveniences would be available in 12 separate blocks with bath and urinal facilities, including those for persons with disabilities.