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| AN ERGONOMICAL RIDE |
| Saturday, March 24, 2007 |
The Metropolitan Transport Corporation in Chennai has finally given some thought to improving passenger safety and comfort. After the launch of premium luxury bus services Blue Line and Yellow Line, two months ago, the city witnessed the launch of two more services viz. Orange Line and White Line.
The names have absolutely no relation to the colour of the buses (one doesnt notice a yellow line but a bus yellow in colour) but it must be mentioned that there is greater leg space for passengers. These buses are also equipped with automatic doors that open and close when operated by a switch in the driver's control panel. The fares suggest that these buses are definitely not meant for the lower middle class common man for whom even an increase of 50 paise in the bus fares would mean parting with a day's income. The minimum fare is Rs. 5 and the maximum, Rs. 10.
The Orange Line and Yellow Line services are just replacements of Limited Stop Services (L.S.S) in some routes but with enhanced comfort. At present Orange Line services ply on routes 6D (Thiruvanmiyur to Toll Gate), 579 (Broadway to Padappai) and 562 (Ambattur Estate to Periyapalayam). White Lines ply on routes 21G (Broadway to Tambaram), 588 (Adyar to Thiruporur) and PP21 (HighCourt to Guduvanchery) [In case I missed any route, do tell me].
Today I took a casual ride in a 6D Orange Line from Tiruvanmiyur to Broadway. Definitely the cynosure of all pedestrians' and motorists' eyes (the bus, not me). On the way back I caught a route 521 (Broadway to Thiruporur) Blue Line. Not bad, I should say. The buses have been built by private body building companies in Karur. This sourcing to expedite the launch of new services. The transport minister said, during the launch of the Orange Line, that 1000 new buses would be added to the existing fleet of 2773, by the end of this year.
The buses may not be as catchy as the Volvo city buses that run in Bengaluru, but they are definitely a welcome break for the average middle class Chennaiite who has been subjected to rickety buses in the past but whose life depends entirely (and even partly) on them.Labels: Chennai |
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Name: Sheks
Home: Madras, TamilNadu, India
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