Any Pondicherry to Chennai Bus in Evening?

I need information regarding buses to reach Chennai (MS) from Pondicherry during evening.

I have searched several sites like redbus and mmt, but most of the regular volvo buses are in the morning. And there is only one bus (Olivea or something ) is available in the evening.

I do not want to use the morning buses from Pondi to reach Chennai as I have a train to catch in the night (around 9ish) and in that way I will waste an entire day.

I can go for Olivea though (the bus looks amazing with business class) which leaves around 4PM, but I guess I will not be a comfortable backpacker with bunch of travelers in business suits.

Please let me know if there's a any buses from Pondi to reach Chennai around 6/7 PM. Or is there any facility of shared cabs/ transport. Can't hire a single cab as I will be traveling solo.

From pondy bus stand you can catch state transport buses or state transport AC buses, for local people AC bus is costly so it wont be crowded, but sunday evening it may be. After all its a journey of 4hrs only.

Hi High Hopes,

Shared Cabs - Have heard that you might sometime get a good deal from cabbies who had rode into pondy and would offer a back ride with two or three. But not to be trusted

Bus - From Pondicherry Bus Depots - You have every half hour bus departures to chennai. Air Con Bus departs once every hour.
I would suggest the following
Train Depart - 9PM
Be at Station ( Not Sure Egmore or Central) - 8:30 PM
Leave Pondy: 3 PM

Suggest you get down at Madhya Kailash Stop. Cross road, Take the train to either Park Station ( If your train is departing from Central Station) or Chindatripet ( If your train is starting from Egmore). You dont need to waste 30-45 mins of within city journey just to reach the CMBT Bus Terminus

Hope it helps
CHeers
Ajay

@OP,

The time you are planning to return (6-7pm) will be the "peak" time.

There will be buses once in 15-20 minutes at that time BUT again crowd will be more compared to the bus lineup and if it's Friday or Sunday it will be a pain to find a seat.

All the buses listed in Redbus etc. starts from long-off places and pondy is Just "Via" place and you will be paying Huge money for the comparatively short ride in Super-fine road (300+ Rs when compared to 80 Rs by government bus). Rathimeena/Sardar/Universel are better companies operating in the route and you can book online in all those omnibus websites(If you don't mind paying 4 times the Government bus fare).

As you mention you are a backpacker and a lone male, you can still easily board the government bus around 6-7 pm. No Worries.


One Hint:- As you mention Train from chennai, get a bus to Chennai which plies Via Tindivanam (AND AVOID ECR ROUTE). Get down at "Perungalathur bus stop" and in 10 metres you will see the "Electric Rail station". You can board there and get down at Egmore Railway station ( just you need to find your train as already you will be in Egmore Railway station) OR Park station(For Central- Just come out and the crowd will make sure you get into a Subway and once you are out of subway you will be in Central Railway station-- On serious note, Hardly 400-500 metres walk). BE AWARE ALL OMNI / PRIVATE BUSES / 70% Of Government buses ply Via ECR and hence look for Via (Tindivanam / NH 45 route).

In My opinion, Absolutely no need to hire a cab.

Hope this helps. If you need more info, Please post.

Velu

Thanks a lot for your advice. I will definitely consider this. Just a question, will there be enough space to keep my backpacks (its like huge and most probably won't be possible to keep it on my lap during the journey)


And thanks Ajaykkssraj for your advice too.

You can place that in the Space in the Front. Better is to find a place in first 2 rows in Left Hand side so that you can keep an eye on your backpack.

Few questions:

1. Does one need to book these government buses in advance in case its Friday or Sunday or just any day?
   
2. Is there any official site for booking these govt. buses?
   
3. Are there any A/C govt. buses from Pondi to Chennai?

And thanks in advance.

SETC buses can be booked online http://www.tnstc.in/TNSTCOnline/.

You will have to register yourself before you can book one.

Thanks, but every attempt to book any type of bus between any available destination on any random dates is welcomed with a comment that the service is not available on the day. LOL

In Pondicherry bus stand, you can book the government buses (Bound for Chennai). There will be counters for SETC, TNSTC and PRTC. SETC is better (Express and 2+2 Seat and very limited stop). PRTC operates 2 Volvo A/C buses in that route. You can check and reserve one well in advance.

Just for the information, there's a regular train service in the late afternoon from Pondicherry to Chennai Egmore.

Train: Pondicherry Chennai Passenger
Leaves Pondicherry at 3:15PM
Arrives at Chennai Egmore (MS) at 8:15PM
Ticket: Rs26.