Koyambedu has two separate MTC end points, and mixing them up costs a long walk. Route data lists some buses as ending at C.M.B.T., the mofussil bus terminus on the Inner Ring Road, and others at Koyambedu Market, the wholesale market further along. Routes 170ACT from Madhavaram and 596 from Thiruvallur end at the terminus; 121A, 159C and M70N end at the market.
The terminus itself is a CMDA project that opened on 18 November 2002 on a 36-acre site, built at a cost of Rs 103 crore, according to CMDA. Its role has changed since the Kilambakkam terminus opened, but it remains one of the busiest bus interchanges in the city.
Terminus or market: which stop your bus uses
The matrix shows eight routes and the Koyambedu-area stops they use. Several routes that do not end at Koyambedu still call at the Koyambedu School stop on the Inner Ring Road, which is a short walk from the terminus. Routes 170A and 114, for example, stop there on their way from Madhavaram and Red Hills down to Tambaram and Vandalur.
The gaps quoted here are averages from MTC route data published on our route pages; they may be dated and real waits vary by time of day, so check live timings on the official MTC site or the Chennai One app before you set out.
Routes by starting area
| Starting from | Route | Ends or stops at | Route length | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madhavaram, Thirumangalam | 170ACT | C.M.B.T. | 17.7 km | 30 min |
| Manali, Madhavaram, Moolakadai | 121A | Koyambedu Market | 20.8 km | 46 min |
| Thiruvotriyur, Tondiarpet, Choolai, Aminjikarai | 159C | Koyambedu Market | 22 km | 2.4 hrs |
| Nanganallur, Guindy, T. Nagar, Vadapalani | M70N | Koyambedu Market | 23.4 km | 2.5 hrs |
| Thiruvallur, Poonamallee, Maduravoyal | 596 | C.M.B.T. | 40.6 km | 51 min |
| Red Hills; or Tambaram, airport, Guindy | 114 | Koyambedu School | 45.4 km | 12 min |
| Madhavaram; or Tambaram, airport, Guindy | 170A | Koyambedu School | 43.7 km | 55 min |
| Mamallapuram, Kelambakkam, OMR, Guindy | 568C | C.M.B.T. | 64.7 km | 6.7 hrs |
Source: MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route pages (linked). Gaps are averages and may be dated.
From the north
Madhavaram has the most direct link: 170ACT runs along the Inner Ring Road through the Bus Bay at the 17th km mark and Thirumangalam to the terminus. 121A starts further out at Manali and follows the same road to the market. From Thiruvotriyur and Tondiarpet, 159C takes the inner route through Choolai, Taylors Road and Arumbakkam.
From the south
From the GST Road side, route 114 is the most frequent option in the data, averaging a bus every 12 minutes. It runs from Vandalur Zoo and Tambaram through the airport and CIPET to Koyambedu School, then on to Red Hills. From Nanganallur, Guindy and T. Nagar, M70N reaches the market through Vadapalani. Only 568C links Koyambedu with the OMR and Mamallapuram, and it is rare.
From the west
596 comes in from Thiruvallur through Poonamallee, Velappanchavadi and Maduravoyal and ends at the terminus, averaging a bus every 51 minutes.
Route 114 averages a bus every 12 minutes and stops at Koyambedu School, the most frequent link here between the GST Road suburbs and Koyambedu (MTC route data).
Metro and the Kilambakkam link
Chennai Metro has two stations here: Koyambedu and Puratchi Thalaivi Dr J. Jayalalithaa CMBT Metro, both listed by CMRL; the CMBT station was renamed in 2020 (Deccan Herald). For Kilambakkam, the transport minister said in January 2024 that MTC buses would run from Koyambedu every five minutes (DT Next).
- Read the destination board carefully: C.M.B.T. and Koyambedu Market are different stops.
- If your bus says Koyambedu School, get off there for the terminus and walk across.
- From Madhavaram or Manali, the Inner Ring Road routes 170ACT and 121A avoid central traffic.
- Check live arrivals on the official MTC site or the Chennai One app before a long trip.
Quick answers
Which bus goes from Madhavaram to Koyambedu CMBT?
Route 170ACT runs from Madhavaram bus stand to C.M.B.T. via Thirumangalam, 17.7 km, averaging one bus every 30 minutes.
Is Koyambedu Market the same stop as CMBT?
No. The route data treats them as separate end points. Check the board for C.M.B.T. or Koyambedu Market.
Which bus goes from Tambaram to Koyambedu?
Routes 114 and 170A run from Vandalur and Tambaram through the airport and Guindy to the Koyambedu School stop.
How big is the Koyambedu bus terminus?
CMDA lists a 36-acre site with three bus fingers that can park about 180 buses at a time.
Information checked against official sources on 19 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT), CMDA
- Route 170ACT: Madhavaram B.S. to C.M.B.T., MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Route 121A: Manali to Koyambedu Market, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Route 159C: Thiruvotriyur to Koyambedu Market, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Route M70N: Nanganallur to Koyambedu Market, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Route 596: C.M.B.T. to Thiruvallur, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Route 568C: C.M.B.T. to Mamallapuram, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Route 170A: Madhavaram B.S. to Vandaloor Zoo, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Route 114: Red Hills to Vandaloor Zoo, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Chennai Metro Rail Limited, official website (station list)
- Tamil Nadu govt renames three metro rail stations in Chennai (Deccan Herald, 31 Jul 2020)
- Sivasankar flags off south-bound mofussil bus services from Madhavaram (DT Next, 30 Jan 2024)
- Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd, official website
