Tiruchi’s ₹492-Crore Integrated Bus Terminus Still Not Fully Functional Six Weeks After Inauguration

Six weeks after Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the Integrated Bus Terminus at Panjapur, the ₹492.55 crore facility mostly remains non-functional, upsetting the public and depriving them of essential services.

Spread across 40 acres on the Tiruchi–Madurai Highway, the IBT includes a bus terminus, truck terminal, and multi-utility centre. Designed to handle major intercity and intra-city transit, the terminus features 401 bus bays 141 for long-distance, 84 for short-distance, 120 for mofussil, and 56 for city buses. It can accommodate 216 cars, 1,935 two-wheelers, and 100 autorickshaws.

Amenities include cloakrooms, ticket counters, passenger waiting areas, restrooms, police and security rooms, fire safety systems, feeding rooms, wheelchairs for persons with disabilities, and digital display boards. The terminus also houses 78 shops, 12 lifts and escalators, and drinking water facilities.

Although some bus services briefly operated after the May 9 inauguration, the terminus has not been fully opened to the public. Officials attribute the delay to pending arrangements for food and retail services. “The terminus will become fully operational once traders are selected to run shops and eateries,” said a senior Tiruchi Corporation official.

Originally scheduled to be functional from June 3, the date has now been tentatively pushed to mid-July. “Outsourcing of maintenance and operations is underway. Tenders to finalise contractors will be opened on June 30,” the official added. The selected contractor will be responsible for identifying vendors to operate food stalls and tea shops.

The delay has left many locals disappointed. “People were excited for the new facility, but things like lack of basic services-snacks and beverages are frustrating,” said K. Janardhanan, a Thennur resident.

Being a major transport hub in the region, its staggered rollout and lack of commercial readiness have drawn criticism, and there is mounting demand for the IBT terminus to become fully operational-without further delays.