Collector Vandana Garg flagged off six bus services for key towns like Arani, Cheyyar, and Tiruvannamalai at the decades-old bus terminus in Polur town on Wednesday, bringing relief to hundreds of commuters.

Officials of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC), which will operate the new buses, said that the new bus service was part of 250 buses that was flagged off by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay in Chennai on Tuesday. Polur MLA R. Abishek of TVK was present on the occasion.

Of the total 250 buses in the State, six new buses will be operated in the district. “The new buses will help commuters, especially women and senior citizens, to travel safely as most of the old buses on the route are damaged. Additional buses should be operated to remote villages to reach big towns in the district,” said S. Malliga, a commuter.

Among six buses, three buses will be operated from the recently opened ₹34-crore bus terminus in Tiruvannamalai town. These buses will ply between the town and remote villages such as Poongunam near Vandavasi, Chellankuppam near Kilpennathur and Kuppanatham near Chengam town. On an average, these villages are at least 35 km away from Tiruvannamalai town. Earlier, residents in these villages had to board two buses to reach town.    

Corporation officials said that the new terminus in Tiruvannamalai will operate long-distance buses to Pondicherry, Kilambakkam (Chennai), Adyar, Madhavaram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Thirukovilur, Panruti, Neyveli, Kumbakonnam, and Chidabaram.

 
Spread over 6.6 acres, the new terminus has CCTV cameras to provide better surveillance. LED lights within the new facility are solar-powered. A police outpost will also be set up.

The new facility connects arterial stretches from Chennai, Madurai, and Bengaluru with the town.