Koyambedu

Koyambedu is a vibrant area in the South Indian city of Chennai.

It is the site of Asia's largest mofussil bus terminus called as the "Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus" or the CMBT [http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/28/stories/2005122816740400.htm] [http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/28/stories/2005122816740400.htm "The Hindu": Koyambedu bus terminus gets ISO certification] ] and is accredited with the quality certification.

It also houses one of Asia's largest perishable goods market complex called the "Koyambedu Market". It also boasts of Tamil Nadu's tallest residential structure, the Arihant Majestic Towers (15 floors).

The Koyambedu area has become a major hub of activity in the Chennai City after the inauguration of the market and the bus terminus. The area is active for 24 hours in a day owing to movement of people and goods through the day.

Access

Koyambedu is connected to both the Chennai Central Railway Station in Park Town and the Chennai International Airport in Meenambakkam through highways: Poonamallee High Road (NH4), a four lane highway, connects Koyambedu to the Chennai Central Railway Station while the Jawaharlal Nehru Road (or the Inner Ring Road or colloquially called the 100-feet road [although it is 200 feet in width] ) connects Koyambedu to Chennai Airport.

Recently, property prices have shot up in and around the area of Koyambedu. Koyambedu is surrounded by localities like Vadapalani, Anna nagar, Arumbakkam, MMDA (of Arumbakkam), Aminjikarai and Virugambakkam, Nerkundram.

Places of Interest

Koyambedu Roundtana

Koyambedu junction or otherwise called the Koyambedu Roundtana is an important road junction in Chennai. It is located north of the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus at the junction of the Inner Ring Road and the Poonamallee High Road (NH4). The junction is a part of the Golden Quadrilateral project taken up under the National Highways Development Project.

Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus or the CMBT

Spread over an area of 37 acre in Koyambedu, this is the largest bus terminus in Asia [http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/28/stories/2005122816740400.htm "The Hindu": Koyambedu bus terminus gets ISO certification] ] and is accredited with the quality certification.

"Mofussil" stands for service throughout the Tamil Nadu state and also the neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Pondicherry.

It can simultaneously station 270 buses and handle over 2 thousand buses and 2 lakh passengers a day. [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2002/11/19/stories/2002111901991700.htm The Hindu Business Line: Jayalalithaa inaugurates new bus terminus in Chennai] ] The 36.5 acre bus terminus has an 18,000 sq ft waiting facility for passengers, a convert|25000|sqft|m2|abbr=on parking space for auto rickshaws, cabs and private cars, and convert|16000|sqft|m2|abbr=on parking space for two-wheelers.

It also has a separate annexe for the private-owned Omni buses which operate throughout Tamil Nadu and the neighboring states.

SAF Games Village

The South Asian Federation (SAF) Games Village at Koyambedu, is a large residential complex with 760 flats. Of these, some flats come under the Government-rental scheme and the others belong to individuals and institutions including the Indian Oil, the Reserve Bank of India, the Punjab National Bank, Annapurna, Food corporation of India, Canara Bank and the State Bank of India.

It was actually built by the Government of Tamil Nadu to provide accommodation during the South Asian Games (or SAF Games) event - for the athletes and sports-persons who participated in the 7th South Asian Federation Games held in Chennai (then Madras) in 1995. Later the flats were taken over by the Govt-aided institutions under various projects of the Tamil Nadu Government and promoted as a large residential complex.

Around 50-60 officers belonging to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS) and the Indian Forest Service (IFS) reside here. The dwelling units coming under the control of the organisations such as the Indian Oil, Annapurna and the RBI present a smart picture. The development of this area had also led to a tremendous increase in the value of property touching even 1 to 1.5 crores per ground.

Landmarks

* Koyambedu Roundtana
* Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT), the largest bus terminus in Asia.
* [http://www.stthomascollege.org St. Thomas College, Koyambedu]
* "The Arihant Towers", the tallest residential complex in Tamil Nadu.
* "The Koyambedu market", the largest market in South India.
* "SAF Games Village", a large residential complex with several apartments.

References

External links

* [http://www.cmdachennai.org/english/projects/bus.htm CMDA site]