The State Highways Department has opened nine swanky bus shelters on the widened Chittoor-Cuddalore Highway in Tiruvannamalai town to help devotees commute easily to the Arunachaleswara temple, especially during Karthigai Deepam festival season.
Officials of State Highways, which maintains the stretch, said that of the total 205 kms between Chittoor and Cuddalore, the stretch was widened into four lanes for a distance of 19.5 kms in Tiruvannamalai district in 2023. As part of basic amenities, 24 bus stops were created on the stretch.
Despite buses halting at the bus stops, commuters had to wait in the open due to the lack of shelters. “With the onset of Northeast monsoon, new shelters at these bus stops will help commuters, including women and senior citizens, to board buses safely. Adequate safety measures in the new facility especially during night should be made,” said B. Vasanthi, a commuter.
On an average, 40,000 vehicles use the stretch every day. The widened road has a 15-metres-wide carriageway, a 1.2 metre-wide median and a 1.5 metre-wide storm water drains on both the sides, LED streetlights, a tiled footpath, a rainwater harvesting system and native trees. After TNSTC vehicles, buses from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka also use the stretch to reach pilgrim centres in Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Puducherry.
Minister for Public Works and Highways E.V. Velu inaugurated new bus shelters in the presence of Deputy Speaker of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, K. Pitchandi, and Tiruvannamalai MP C.N. Annadurai.
Highways officials said that new bus shelters were built at a cost of ₹1.35 crore. Each shelter has seating arrangements, LED lights, digital display of bus number and routes, CCTV cameras and a complaint box. The new facility will be maintained by Tiruvannamalai Corporation and village panchayats on the route.
Published – November 16, 2025 05:27 am IST
