This story is from March 24, 2020

TNSTC reduces services by 34% in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Nilgiris

TNSTC reduces services by 34% in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Nilgiris
Coimbatore: In the view of Covid-19 pandemic, the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has reduced the number of bus services in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Nilgiris districts by 34% as passengers count has come down by more than 50%, as on Monday.
But hours after the state government’s announcement on statewide lockdown, mofussil bus stands especially Singanallur bus stand were crowded with passengers who wanted to travel to other districts as both the mofussil and town bus services would be suspended from 6pm on Tuesday.

TNSTC operates 2,641 buses – both town buses and mofussil – in four districts. It has stopped the services of 891 buses as on Monday due to reduction in passenger count, an official from TNSTC said.
“We have cancelled all the bus services from the four districts to Chennai from Monday onwards,” the official said. On March 18, the department has stopped the services of 43 buses to Kerala and 30 to Karnataka till March 31, the official pointed out.
A mofussil bus driver said, “The number of passengers who travel from Coimbatore to other districts, have considerably come down and we have been operating the buses only with a handful of passengers in the last few days. We have been operating buses on losses.”
“Number of passengers from Salem and Erode districts to KMCH has also come down. This shows about the awareness people have on avoiding crowds and stepping out of their house unwantedly,” he added.
In the evening, there was a huge rush in bus stands in the city to catch buses to other districts. Buses to districts including Trichy, Theni and Madurai are operated from Singanallur bus stand.
A passenger, Sushma said, “After waiting for two hours, I couldn’t manage to board a bus to Theni. It was too crowded. I lost my patience and planning to returning to my hostel.”
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA