Commuters lament ‘reduced’ bus frequency between Mattuthavani and Arappalayam

TNSTC buses stationed on the road near Arappalayam Bus Stand in Madurai on Friday (November 6, 2026). | Photo Credit: G. Moorthy With festive season on, city residents and those returning home in other places are busy purchasing essentials, sweets, crackers, and clothes. However, a reduced number of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses on key routes has left them waiting for hours.Several commuters said the crucial Mattuthavani — Arappalayam route, which linked major areas such as Sellur, Goripalayam, Tallakulam, District Court, K.K. Nagar, New Jail Road, Tamil Sangam Road, Simmakkal, Government Rajaji Hospital, and Anna Nagar, did not have adequate bus coverage.People returning from cities like Bengaluru and Chennai to Madurai and other southern districts such as Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Kanniyakumari reported severe difficulties in catching local buses on time.One passenger, who travelled from Salem to Arappalayam junction before heading to Ramanathapuram via M.G.R. Bus Stand, lamented that he, along with his wife, children, and luggage, had to stand under a scorching sun for over an hour around noon waiting for a government bus.He noted this was an unprecedented experience in the 10 years they lived away from the region.“As an IT professional working in Bengaluru, I always find the final leg of my travel— from Bengaluru to Salem, Salem to Madurai, and Madurai to Ramanathapuram— challenging, regardless of how many government buses are operated,” he said, adding that the travel between Arappalayam and Mattuthavani had been smooth once with frequent services from both terminals.Now, however, the passengers had hoped the rollout of Vettri Payanam scheme would mean more TNSTC buses for a free and comfortable ride for women. “But, after reaching Arappalayam at 11 a.m., I waited for nearly an hour for an intra-city bus,” he said.Although buses proceeding to Tirunelveli and other southern districts from Salem and the region stopped at Arappalayam Bus Stand before heading to M.G.R. Bus Stand, they were extremely crowded, leaving no room for luggage. Meanwhile, private and mini buses were overwhelmed by massive crowds waiting at the stops.“While we welcomed the free travel scheme for women, reducing regular services along key routes only adds to the public’s burden,” he added.A TNSTC bus conductor acknowledged that passengers found buses scarcer, but trips strictly followed official timing schedules which was beyond their control. “I also find it difficult to accommodate the rush of passengers waiting for hours, but if a fewer trips are scheduled, my hands are tied. Running the buses in the previous frequency will bring relief to the conductors as well,” he said.A TNSTC official, however, claimed that bus trips had not been reduced, but rather increased. “Perhaps the heavy crowds and congested city traffic are simply delaying bus movement,” the official reasoned. Published - November 06, 2026 08:05 pm IST