Chennai: Announced eight years ago, the work on Kilambakkam bus terminus near Urapakkam on the outskirts of Chennai, eventually began taking shape in 2019. However, it has come to a temporary halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Proposed to be built at a cost of Rs 394 crore, the terminus aims to give connectivity to the southern most parts of the State as well as to decongest CMBT terminus at Koyambedu.

Officials who are part of the project say that it is very much active and is currently on hold due to Covid-19 spread.

“All the drawings are ready and funds also are available”, said an official in reply to questions by News Today.

According to sources, the project is monitored by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam as his portfolio includes Housing and Urban Development. The size of the land earmarked for the project is 88.52 acres.

Bus fleets from here would extend services to Trichy, Madurai, Kumbakonam and Tirunelveli. “With 215 bays, the sprawling outlay will have terminals for State Transportation Corporation, Metropolitan Corporation and for private buses,” sources said.

The premises will have facilities such as mothers’ room, medical centre, clinic, ATMs, dormitories, toilets, 20 ticket counters, workshops and CCTV surveillance.

This apart, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority is also constructing a mofussil bus terminus at Kuthamabkkam near Thirumazhisai. It is coming up on a 20-acre land belonging to the Tamilnadu Housing Board.

A senior official said, “we chose the location as it is abutting Bangalore High Road. It would have bus services to western districts.”