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Coimbatore Buses Overwhelmed by Festival Rush
27 May
Summary
- Heavy passenger rush seen at Coimbatore bus terminals on Tuesday night.
- Protests erupted due to inadequate bus services and staff shortages.
- Special buses were operated, but demand exceeded expectations.
All four major bus terminals in Coimbatore experienced overwhelming passenger crowds on Tuesday night. This surge was attributed to the convergence of two auspicious days extending through Monday and the Bakrid festival on Thursday.
The situation led to protests by passengers near the Singanallur bus stand in the early hours of Wednesday. Commuters voiced frustration over insufficient bus services and a shortage of staff, which created severe travel disruptions during this peak period.
While officials deployed 370 buses from the Coimbatore district on Wednesday, including 50 special services, they acknowledged the demand exceeded typical expectations. This was due to the combined effect of the wedding season, the holiday weekend, and Bakrid.
Bus terminal operations are divided geographically: Ukkadam serves southern districts, Singanallur handles southern routes, Mettupalayam Road caters to northern destinations, and Gandhipuram serves routes towards Tirupur, Salem, and others. All saw significant congestion.
Transport staff reported continuous duties without adequate rest, a common issue during festivals and weekends. Passengers, including families with children, described long waits and urged the government to increase both bus numbers and staff to manage future travel demands effectively.
