Ultra Deluxe AC buses from western TN to Chennai and Bengaluru

Chennai: Bus linkages from various parts of the western Tamil Nadu with Chennai and Bengaluru have improved with the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) launching five AC sleeper bus services on July 2. Deluxe AC sleeper buses will ply on the routes of Chennai-Salem, Chennai-Erode, Chennai-Madurai, Chennai-Gobichettipalayam, Chennai-Bodinayakanur and Coimbatore-Bengaluru, replacing the existing SETC buses.

The fare of Chennai-Madurai would be Rs 950 per person (excluding online booking charges and GST), while it would be Rs 700 from Chennai to Salem, and Chennai to Gobichettipalayam around Rs 900. The fares would still be lower than private omnibuses by 10 to 15 per cent.

The fare would be around 200 paise between Thursday and Sunday, and come down to 180 paise between Monday and Wednesday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami flagged off the first batch of 515 government buses from the Secretariat on July 2, built as per AIS 052, a standard code for building buses prescribed by the ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India). The buses were built at a cost of Rs 134.53 crore.

Ultra deluxe classic buses attached with toilet facility began their maiden run on the Chennai-Dindigul route from July 3. Two new ultra deluxe buses have replaced the existing old buses in the Chennai-Erode and Chennai-Thiruthuraipundi sections.

The new mofussil and SETC buses are provided with pneumatic doors, collision warning sensor, raised platforms with emergency exits at front and rear. The degree of inclination of seats has increased to 115 so as to be more comfortable. Mofussil buses will have fewer seats -- from 57 to 48 -- to provide for emergency exits on the rear side. The buses would also have surveillance cameras and GPS tracker.

Number of news buses allocated: SETC - 40, TNSTC (Coimbatore) - 172, TNSTC (Salem) - 78, TNSTC (Villupuram) - 60, TNSTC (Kumbakonam) - 64, TNSTC (Madurai) - 32 and TNSTC (Tirunelveli) - 69.