Four MTC routes in the route data connect Madhavaram with the rest of Chennai, and route 38H from Broadway is the most useful for the city centre: 12.7 km through Vyasarpadi and Moolakadai, with a bus every 18 minutes on average. From Koyambedu, 170ACT runs along the Inner Ring Road, and from the south 170A comes all the way from Vandalur zoo and Tambaram.
The Madhavaram mofussil bus terminus (MMBT) matters more since January 2024, when the transport minister flagged off 160 GST Road services from it so that north Chennai residents would not have to travel to Kilambakkam (DT Next). The same report listed 90 services to Tirupati. Here is how to get there by city bus.
A word on the stop names
MTC route data names the end point Madhavaram B.S. (bus stand), with nearby stops at Madhavaram, Madhavaram Post Box and Moolakadai. We could not confirm from official sources whether every one of these buses enters the mofussil terminus itself, so tell the conductor you are going to the mofussil terminus and get off where the crew suggests.
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 | Via | Route length | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadway, Parrys, Vyasarpadi | 38H | Moolakadai, Madhavaram Post Box | 12.7 km | 18 min |
| Koyambedu (CMBT), Thirumangalam | 170ACT | Inner Ring Road, 17th km bus bay | 17.7 km | 30 min |
| Koyambedu Market; or Manali | 121A | Inner Ring Road, Moolakadai | 20.8 km | 46 min |
| Vandalur, Tambaram, airport, Guindy, Koyambedu | 170A | Inner Ring Road, Moolakadai | 43.7 km | 55 min |
Source: MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route pages (linked). Gaps are averages and may be dated.
From the city centre
Route 38H starts at Broadway and runs past Parrys and Clive Battery before heading north through Vyasarpadi and Sarma Nagar to Moolakadai and Madhavaram. It is the shortest and most frequent route in this set.
From Koyambedu and west Chennai
170ACT links the CMBT with Madhavaram in 17.7 km, through Thirumangalam and the 17th km bus bay. 121A uses the same road from Koyambedu Market and continues past Madhavaram to Manali, which also makes it the route for Manali residents.
From the south
170A is a long cross-city route. From Vandalur and Tambaram it runs through Chromepet, Pallavaram, the airport, CIPET in Guindy and Koyambedu before turning onto the Inner Ring Road to Madhavaram. Average gaps are close to an hour.
Of the services from Madhavaram listed in January 2024, 90 were to Tirupati, the largest single destination in the DT Next report.
About the terminus
The MMBT was built on eight acres at a cost of Rs 94.16 crore and opened in late 2018, DT Next reported in January 2019, adding that early users complained of waterlogging and few amenities (DT Next). For scale, CMDA’s Koyambedu terminus sits on 36 acres (CMDA). All MMBT services in the 2024 plan were to run via Maduravoyal and the Chennai Bypass.
- From Broadway or Parrys, route 38H is the quickest city bus to Madhavaram.
- From Koyambedu, take 170ACT for the CMBT end or 121A from the market end.
- Confirm with the crew that your bus stops near the mofussil terminus.
- Check live arrivals on the official MTC site or the Chennai One app.
Quick answers
Which bus goes from Broadway to Madhavaram?
Route 38H, 12.7 km via Vyasarpadi and Moolakadai, averaging a bus every 18 minutes.
Is there a bus from Koyambedu to Madhavaram bus terminus?
Route 170ACT runs from CMBT to Madhavaram bus stand along the Inner Ring Road, about every 30 minutes on average.
Which long-distance buses leave from Madhavaram?
The January 2024 plan listed services to Tirupati, Tiruvannamalai, Trichy, Salem, Puducherry and other towns via the bypass.
Is there a direct bus from Tambaram to Madhavaram?
Yes. Route 170A runs from Vandalur zoo and Tambaram to Madhavaram via the airport and Koyambedu.
Information checked against official sources on 19 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Sivasankar flags off south-bound mofussil bus services from Madhavaram (DT Next, 30 Jan 2024)
- Array of problems besiege new bus terminus at Madhavaram (DT Next, 20 Jan 2019)
- Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT), CMDA
- Route 38H: Madhavaram B.S. to Broadway, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Route 170ACT: Madhavaram B.S. to C.M.B.T., 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 121A: Manali to Koyambedu Market, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd, official website
- TN launches Chennai One app for single QR ticket across public transport (PTI via The Week, 22 Sep 2025)
