Date:04/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/04/stories/2007120491260100.htm

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325 new MTC services from January

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Transport Minister K.N. Nehru on Monday said here that the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) would be introducing 325 new services by January first week. The existing services of MTC numbered 2,775, the Minister said.

He announced this at a public consultation organised by the MTC, in which hundreds of commuters and representatives of their associations participated. On the consultation process, Mr. Nehru said: “We value the people’s input in deciding on useful routes; this is why we decided to organise a meeting of this scale.” He said that the State Government had undertaken various studies to ascertain the number of routes and bus services a city like Chennai needed. Academics were consulted and extensive research was conducted for the purpose.

Transport Secretary Debendranath Sarangi said the meeting was also to obtain feedback on the new bus services and routes. He said the MTC had increased the fleet strength recently and also introduced luxury services. Plans are under way to add 500 buses soon.

Mayor M. Subramanian said that it was for the first time that such a large-scale consultation was being conducted by MTC. “The city is developing rapidly and there is need for modern transport facilities. The quality of the buses and related facilities are improving and becoming on a par with the developed nations,” he said.

MTC managing director M. Ramasubramanian, several councillors and ward members participated.