Chaos at Singanallur terminus as voters block road over bus shortage ahead of Tamil Nadu polls

COIMBATORE: Chaos erupted at the Singanallur bus terminus in Coimbatore late on Wednesday night, as hundreds of passengers staged a road blockade over an alleged shortage of government buses to southern districts ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The protest brought traffic to a halt on the busy Trichy Road and exposed the difficulties faced by thousands of people from districts such as Madurai, Theni and Tirunelveli who were trying to return home to vote. Large numbers of commuters had gathered at the terminal since Wednesday night. After waiting for hours without adequate transport, a group of angry passengers blocked the main road and demanded immediate action from transport officials. The crowd was comparable to a peak festival-season rush. Although the government had announced special bus services, the heavy turnout of voters, including government employees and industrial workers, overwhelmed the available fleet. Passengers said the transport department had failed to plan for election travel with the same seriousness shown during Deepavali or Pongal. Many were seen standing on footboards or packed into overcrowded buses. "We have been waiting since 10 PM. Every bus that arrives is already full. If the government wants us to vote, it must provide the means to reach the polling booths," said a textile worker bound for Tirunelveli.