Minister flags off bus services at new terminus in Tiruvannamalai

Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports Minister EV Velu on Tuesday brought relief to hundreds of long-distance commuters by suspending bus services at the newly opened modern bus terminus on Chennai-Tindivanam Road in Tiruvannamalai town.

This comes after the facility, built at a cost of ₹34 crore, was officially inaugurated during Chief Minister MK Stalin’s visit to the district on December 27, 2025. After the final touches were made and a list of long-distance buses that could be operated from the facility was prepared, the terminal was opened to the public.

Spread over an area of ​​6.6 acres, the new terminal has CCTV cameras and solar-powered LED lights to improve surveillance. The new facility connects all three arteries in Chennai, Madurai and Bengaluru to the town. A police station will also be established.

“The new bus terminus has passenger amenities such as digital bus timing boards, waiting lounge, public announcement systems, adequate toilets, water taps and parking facilities,” said Tiruvannamalai Corporation Commissioner S. Selva Balaji. Hindu.

The new terminal will operate long-distance buses to Pondicherry, Kilambakkam (Chennai), Adyar, Madhavaram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Thirukovilur, Panruti, Neyveli, Kumbakonam and Chidambaram, company officials said.

The old bus terminal, opened in 1988 near Arunachaleswarar Temple, is located on a two-acre plot in the heart of the city. It will continue to operate buses to Bengaluru, Vellore, Vandavasi, Cheyyar, Chengam, Arcot, Ranipet, Coimbatore, Salem, Kancheepuram, Hosur and Dharmapuri. Every day, on an average, more than 400 buses are operated by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) at the terminal. Due to traffic congestion in the town, buses have difficulty reaching the terminal.

“The corporation should provide shuttle services between the new and old bus terminus to help passengers board local buses with ease as autorickshaws charge exorbitant prices to reach these facilities,” said N. Prasanna, a commuter.

Deputy Speaker of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly K. Pitchandi and Collector K. Tharpagaraj were present on the occasion.