Passengers say they now need to make extra transfers to reach Guindy and Porur after several routes were withdrawn. The transport corporation cited low revenue per kilometre.
Residents of Pattabiram and Avadi in Tamil Nadu are seeking the restoration of bus services that were stopped after new routes were launched from the Poonamallee bus terminus. Residents say the buses connected their neighbourhoods with important destinations not served by suburban trains.
T. Sadagopan, a Pattabiram resident and consumer activist, said services to Sriperumbudur, Guindy and Kavignar Kannadasan Nagar in north Chennai were among those stopped. M. Gurunathan said commuters, traders and patients travelling towards Porur had relied on buses to Guindy and now have to travel via Ambattur and change buses.
Residents of Velachery are also seeking direct services to the Anna Salai business district and Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central railway station. Since the service to Tiruvottiyur via Anna Salai was withdrawn, they have had to rely on the long A51 route between Tambaram West and Royapuram. They want at least some A51 trips to run as a shorter service from Velachery.
A senior official of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation said the route currently has three air-conditioned buses, 17 Deluxe buses and two ordinary buses. The official said services were withdrawn because revenue per kilometre was 30%, compared with an average of 69%.