Chennai: The ₹414 crore Arignar Anna Bus Terminus at Kuthambakkam, along the Chennai-Bengaluru highway, has been lying idle for nearly three months. Bus bays, lounges, wash rooms, parking and battery-operated vehicles to ferry passengers within the 24 acre complex are ready. But the facility is deserted and gathering dust. Reason: Chief minister C Joseph Vijay is yet to announce a date for its ‘official’ inauguration.The terminus was developed by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority inside Thirumazhisai satellite township to ease Chennai’s mounting west-bound traffic chaos involving several thousand vehicles, particularly those heading to Bengaluru, Hosur and Krishnagiri. The terminus has a capacity of around 400 private buses and 1,000 SETC and TNSTC buses. MTC services may also be planned, based on demand once operations begin.The delay in shifting west-bound buses out of Koyambedu adds to the congestion along Poonamallee High Road and Maduravoyal, where private buses frequently occupy entire stretches of roadside space and even park inside the Maduravoyal cloverleaf interchange during peak hours.When TOI visited the terminus, the facility was empty, save for a handful of security guards doing rounds occasionally. Battery-operated vehicles, still under bubble-wrap, stood unused on the ground floor. Cafeterias and food courts remained shut. Dust had settled on several sections of the newly built structure.Officials on site said the construction work had been completed by Feb, but the Model Code of Conduct, ahead of the state assembly poll, delayed its inauguration. “As a new minister has taken charge, officials are expected to inspect the terminus before fixing an opening date for the chief minister,” a staff member said.CMDA officials, however, said that unresolved access issues are holding up the launch. Paul Princely Rajkumar, district revenue officer, CMDA, said buses coming from Chennai currently have to overshoot the terminus and take a U-turn on NH-48 to enter the facility. “The service lane entry is narrow and comes within 10m from the U-turn on the highway, which is too little space for buses to turn. We are exploring options including a direct right entry or a flyover access,” he said.Rajkumar added that National Highways Authority of India had informed CMDA about the future plans for a toll corridor towards Sriperumbudur along the same route, making a flyover proposal difficult. “We have to ensure traffic movement is not affected. The issue will be discussed with the minister and the opening date will be decided after that,” he said.All Omni Bus Owners Association president A Anbalagan said govt must ensure last-mile connectivity before opening the terminus. “If sufficient MTC and rail connectivity is not provided, passengers will depend on private vehicles. One bus passenger group can bring nearly 40 cars into the terminus, and that could choke the entire NH-48 stretch,” he said.
