Chathiram Bus Station, Tiruchirappalli

Chathiram Bus Stand
சத்திரம் பேருந்து நிலையம்
Chathiram Bus Stand; சத்திரம் பேருந்து நிலையம்
General information
Location	Chintamani, Tiruchirappalli; Tamil Nadu. PIN – 620 002.; India
Coordinates	10°49′53″N 78°41′36″E / 10.83139°N 78.69333°E
Owned by	Tiruchirappalli City Municipal Corporation
Operated by	Department of Transport (Tamil Nadu)
Platforms	8
Construction
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Accessible
History
Opened	1979; 45 years ago
Passengers
	50,000 / Per day

Chathiram Bus Stand, Tiruchirappalli, old name Chinnaiya Pillai Chathiram also popularly known Chathiram Perundu Nilayam or Chathiram Bus Stand, is one of the bus termini of Trichy, other being the Central Bus Stand.^[3] The terminus is located in a land of 2.05 acres (0.83 ha) near Chintamani, adjacent to St. Joseph's College.^[4]

Chinnaiya Pillai Chathiram (Choultry) Choultry is a resting place, an inn or caravansary for travelers, pilgrims or visitors to a site. Non-profit organization is involved in a variety of projects and undertakings, the aim of which was physical, social and spiritual upliftment of all. To sustain these endeavors, the most fundamental aspect is food. At the Chinnaiya Pillai Chaitram, Annadanam, the sacred offered of food during that time, to Sanyasis, volunteers, Bramhacharis, students and all daily visitors.

Overview

This 'D'-graded terminus, taking its name from the nearby Chinnaiya Pillai Chathiram,^[2] became functional since 1979 and officially recognised in 2005.^[5] The terminus is managed by Department of Transport (Tamil Nadu), mostly operating TNSTC's transit buses and minibuses to northern, eastern and western parts of Tiruchirapalli district.^[6]^[7]^[8]

Redevelopment

As of November 4, 2019 the bus terminus is closed for operation and being redeveloped completely at an estimated cost of ₹17.34 crore (US$2.1 million) as part of the Smart City Mission. The buses operated from the current terminal has been shifted to nearby roads where designated points has been created for different routes with makeshift shelters as an intermediate measure for continued operations.^[9] The work was originally slated to be completed in eighteen months, but due to lockdown for COVID-19 its expected to be delayed further. As per the plan the new bus terminal to host the following features.^[10] The renovated bus station was opened in 2022.

30 bus bays
Passenger waiting hall
Cloak room
Feeding room for lactating mothers
Ticket counters
Food court
Retiring room for police and bus crew
Underground parking lot to accommodate 350 two-wheelers
33 commercial shops (17 on the ground floor and 16 on other floor)

Services

The terminus also handles mofussil intercity bus services, express buses, highway buses and sleeper buses at scheduled hours as it serves as boarding point for north and west – bound buses belonging SETC, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and private operators to destinations like Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.^[5]

Platform	Destinations
1	Thuvakudi, Kailasapuram, OFT, HAPP, Navalpattu, Police Colony(Via Thiruverumbur). and Thiruverumbur
2	Keeranur, Tiruchirappalli Airport, Tiruchirappalli Junction, Uraiyur, Ponmalai, OFT-HAPP, Police Colony(Via Tiruchirappalli Airport).
3	Sangiliyandapuram, Senthaneerpuram, K. K. Nagar and Kumaravayalur
4	Uraiyur , Thillai Nagar, Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station and Central Bus Station, Tiruchirappalli
5	Inam kulathur
6	Samayapuram and Manachanallur
7	Pettavaithalai and Mukkombu
8	Lalgudi and Kallanai
South Western side of terminus	Srirangam, Thiruvanaikaval
North Western side of terminus	Karur, Erode, Thuraiyur and Coimbatore
Northern side of terminus	Cuddalore, Perambalur, Neyveli, Jayankondam, Ariyalur and Musiri

On the left side of the terminus services for Srirangam were operated, and on the western side for Karur, Erode, Thuraiyur and Coimbatore^[3]^[11] and for Cuddalore, Perambalur, Neyveli, Jayankondam, Ariyalur and Musiri on the northern side (near Ramba Theatre complex).^[12]^[13]

Connections

The terminus is connected to Tiruchirappalli Fort railway station, which is about 1.3 kilometres (0.81 mi) towards south–west^[14] and Tiruchirappalli Town railway station, about 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) south–east.^[15]