Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Transport Department has issued an explanation regarding the delays experienced in the departure of buses from Chennai’s Kilambakkam bus stand and to various outstation destinations on the eve of the election. The department also stated that 6.25 lakh people travelled in the 10,637 buses operated from Chennai in connection with the election.
Chennai bus stand chaos and criticism
Polling for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election took place on April 23. Ahead of the polls, hundreds of thousands of people from Chennai and its suburbs departed via buses, trains, and private vehicles to cast their votes in their respective hometowns. Consequently, a chaotic situation arose where passengers struggled to find available buses.
Passengers who had not made advance reservations or had planned travel at the last minute converged at the Koyambedu bus terminal on the night of April 22. However, passengers faced severe hardships as an insufficient number of buses were operated to major cities such as Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore, and Nellai. Women and children were left waiting at the bus terminal throughout the night until dawn. Frustrated passengers even resorted to staging road blockades in protest. The situation did not normalize until after 9:00 AM the following morning.
Many voters traveling to the southern districts were unable to reach their hometowns before the voting period concluded, and in numerous locations, they were unable to cast their votes because they arrived after 6:00 PM. Critics pointed to traffic congestion and the failure to operate a sufficient number of buses as the root causes of the issue.
Transport department’s response
Commenting on the matter, R. Mohan, Managing Director of the State Express Transport Corporation, stated: “On April 21, a total of 3,431 buses—comprising the regular fleet of 2,092 buses and an additional 1,339 special buses—were operated, facilitating travel for 1.89 lakh people. From April 22 until 12:00 PM on April 23, a total of 7,206 buses—consisting of the regular 3,000 buses and an additional 4,206 special buses—were operated, enabling 4.38 lakh people to travel. Thus, from April 21 up to 6:00 AM on April 23, a grand total of 10,637 buses were operated, serving 6.25 lakh passengers. Therefore, there is no truth to the allegation that the buses were not operated properly.”
Reason for delays
Mohan explained that buses operated from Chennai to Villupuram, Tindivanam, and Tiruvannamalai during the afternoon and evening hours typically return to Chennai by nightfall and are then scheduled to be operated again during the night. However, as these buses did not depart at their scheduled times, delays occurred in their return to Chennai. “The traffic congestion caused by the mass exodus is the reason for this delay,” he stated.