AC Buses Chennai(Koyambedu) to Pondicherry

TNSTC (State Government undertaking) is operating AC buses on this route (East Coast Road) with very reasonable charges.

No need to book in advance . This comes as a breath of fresh air!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_N...rt_Corporation

The photos of the AC bus interiors matches with what I went in.

Hi Gametotravel,

Thanks for that information on the a/c coaches on the ECR.

I've been searching for the timings of those buses that you mentioned online, but turned up no leads: TNSTC doesn't seem to list them. Would you happen to have an idea of where to find that or have the info yourself?

It still is in fledgling stage! After 12pm there is one bus after which the ac buses headed further south are diverted to Pondicherry if there are takers( for Pondicherry).

So one has to make enquiries at their information/advance ticket office at Koyambedu.

Though ac buses for Mahabalipuram(1/3 the way to Pondicherry) are very much in operation now.

Anyone has info on the frequency of these A/C buses to Pondicherry?

The first bus leaves at 6.30am after which the frequency is every one hour till 1.30pm. After this time I am not sure about A/C buses dpartures, but non ac buses leave every half an hour.

Just returned from a quick weekend trip to Pondy. There were plenty of MTC Volvo A/C buses going towards Pondy on ECR. We saw them every 20mins or so, I'm guessing MTC is diverting the Volvo buses to this route during weekends?

Yup A/C Volvo buses run at regular intervals on ECR. I believe its Rs.150 from Tiruvanmiyur to Pondy.

VOLVO AC bus #555 CMBT Chennai to Pondicherry
Takes roughly 3.5 hours for the whole journey
Costs INR 190 per head.
Available from CMBT every 1 Hour starting from 6am to 10pm. Same deal from Pondicherry: every 1 Hour starting from 6am to 10pm.

Bus from CMBT takes Guindy, Thiruvanmayur route to ECR to reach Pondicherry.
Goto TNSTC website for more info.
http://www.tnstc.in/

Hi, Thanks for the information provided.
I am planning Pondicherry trip on this weekend 15-Sep-2012. I have seen checked that online booking is also available for chennai (CMBT) to pondicherry. Is it advisable to book online or better to go at bus stand and take ticket at the time of travel ? I am planning to travel from chennai (CMBT) on 15-Sep-2012 (Saturday) around 8 am to 10 am. Please advise.
- Dharm

No booking at Chennai end; just go and take your seat! At the Pondi end you have a counter for booking seat and they charge Rs5 for the ticket(journey ticket to be bought in bus). Do book there as per your return plan to avoid 2 hours wait at the terminus!