Chennai Flags Off 11 Private Minibus Routes To Boost Local Connectivity

Chennai has begun rolling out private minibus services to enhance last-mile connectivity in urban and peri-urban zones. On Monday, Health Minister Ma Subramanian flagged off 11 mini buses at the Transport Commissioner Office in Guindy, marking the first phase of Tamil Nadu’s ambitious plan to bolster public mobility through commercial vehicles.

The launch followed Chief Minister MK Stalin’s inauguration of the comprehensive minibus scheme in Thanjavur earlier the same day. While the government has approved 72 routes for Chennai, only 11 routes have started operating under Phase 1.

List of New Routes

1. Nolambur Bus Stand to Paruthipattu Checkpost
   
2. Kovilambakkam to Kamakshi Hospital
   
3. Ramapuram DLF to Porur Tollgate
   
4. Chettiar Agaram Main Road to Alwar Thirunagar Aavin Point
   
5. Kaiveli Bridge to Madipakkam Koot Road
   
6. Eechangadu to Madipakkam Bus Stop
   
7. Adambakkam Railway Station to Eechangadu Junction
   
8. Lamech School, Valasaravakkam to Meenakshi Government Hospital, Maduravoyal
   
9. OMR Service Road, Karapakkam to Thoraipakkam 200 Feet Road
   
10. Sholinganallur to Thoraipakkam
    
11. Ambattur Dunlop Bus Stand to Pammathukulam (via SVT Nagar Park)
    

CM Stalin Expands Original Vision

The minibus scheme, first introduced in 1997 by then CM Karunanidhi, aimed to connect remote villages with nearby towns. With rapid urbanization, CM Stalin expanded the scope. The new policy allows minibuses to run on routes up to 25 km, of which 65% must cover unserved roads and 35% can overlap with existing services.

2,857 Routes Identified Across Tamil Nadu

Under the comprehensive scheme, the state has identified 2,857 minibus routes: 2,010 new proposals and 847 migration routes.

for all of them. Permits were issued after scrutiny. Within Chennai Corporation limits (excluding the core city), 72 routes have received approval.

“More minibuses will be introduced on the selected city routes in the coming days as and when the applicants produce the minibuses with all the required documents to get a permit,” said a senior transport official.

Conclusion: A Step Toward Reliable Mobility

The new fleet of commercial vehicles is expected to reduce transport gaps, particularly in areas long underserved. By offering affordable, reliable, and locally accessible minibus services, the government aims to expand the formal public transport network in a commercially sustainable way. At the launch, Mayor R. Priya and District Collector Rashmi Siddharth Zagade were present to support the initiative, signaling the government’s readiness to back grassroots transport innovation in Chennai.

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