Route 66 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Route Number | 66 (MTC Chennai — Ordinary and Express Service) |
| From | Tambaram West |
| To | Poonamallee |
| Route Corridor | Via TB Sanatorium, Chromepet, Pallavaram, Pammal, Anakaputhur, Kundrathur, Mangadu, Kumananchavadi |
| Distance | 21.9 kilometres |
| Total Stops | 43 stops |
| Journey Time | Approximately 75 minutes |
| Daily Trips (each direction) | ~65 trips per day |
| First Bus (from Tambaram) | 3:50 AM |
| Last Bus (from Tambaram) | 9:25 PM |
| First Bus (from Poonamallee) | 4:50 AM |
| Last Bus (from Poonamallee) | 9:40 PM |
| Average Frequency | Every 10–13 minutes |
| Operating Days | All 7 days — Monday to Sunday and public holidays |
| Bus Type | Ordinary and Express Service |
| AC Bus Available? | No |
| Starting Fare | Rs 8 (Ordinary minimum). 14 fare stages. |
| Monthly Pass | Rs 2,000 unlimited MTC pass (from March 2025) covers Route 66 |
| Related Variants | J66 (limited — 7 trips/day); 66A, 66D, 66E, 66ET |
Route 66 is the key cross-town link between Chennai’s southern railway hub at Tambaram and the western boundary at Poonamallee — a 21.9 km arc that bypasses the crowded GST Road and city centre entirely. For residents of Pammal, Anakaputhur, Kundrathur, and Mangadu, it is often the only direct bus connecting them westward to Poonamallee or eastward to Tambaram without changing at Guindy or Koyambedu.
⚠ DELAY ADVISORY: Average peak-time speed on this route is approximately 18 km/h. The Pallavaram–Pammal stretch sees significant congestion during school hours and evening peak. Add 15–20 minutes during these periods.
All Stops — Tambaram West to Poonamallee
| Stop No. | Stop Name | Key Landmarks / Other Names |
| 1 | Tambaram West | MR Theatre, Vidya Theatre, Hindu Mission Hospital, Tambaram Sub-Registrar Office, Jesus Calls Prayer Tower, Railway Colony |
| 2 | Kadaperi | Jawahar Hospital, Valluvar Gurukulam HSS, Tambaram Taluk Office, MEPZ, Kadaperi Lake |
| 3 | TB Sanatorium | Govt Thoracic Medicine Hospital |
| 4 | TB Hospital | |
| 5 | Chromepet General Hospital | |
| 6 | MIT Gate | |
| 7 | Chromepet | Chromepet Railway Station |
| 8 | Saravana Stores | |
| 9 | Ponds | |
| 10 | Pallavaram | Pallavaram Bus Stand, IAF Station |
| 11 | Pallavaram Market | |
| 12 | Pallavaram School | |
| 13 | Muthamil Nagar | |
| 14 | Krishna Nagar | |
| 15 | Pozhichalur Junction | |
| 16 | Pammal | |
| 17 | Pammal Theatre | |
| 18 | Balaji Nagar | |
| 19 | Pammal School | |
| 20 | Pammal Amman Koil | |
| 21 | Anakaputhur | |
| 22 | Seeman Leather Company | |
| 23 | Karaima Nagar | |
| 24 | Pillaiyar Koil | |
| 25 | Andarkuppam | |
| 26 | Kundrathur Bus Stop | |
| 27 | Kundrathur PU Office | |
| 28 | Kundrathur Nal Road | |
| 29 | Kollacheri | |
| 30 | Sivanthangal | |
| 31 | Sikkarayapuram | |
| 32 | Sikkarayapuram Anna Statue | |
| 33 | Muthukumaran College | Muthukumaran Engineering College |
| 34 | Kozhumanivakkam | |
| 35 | KK Nagar | |
| 36 | Pattur Road Junction | |
| 37 | Mangadu | Mangadu Depot |
| 38 | Gangai Amman Koil | |
| 39 | Chetti Street | |
| 40 | Kumananchavadi | |
| 41 | Kallarai | |
| 42 | General Hospital (GH) | Poonamallee Government Hospital |
| 43 | Poonamallee | Poonamallee Bus Terminus |
Bus Timing / Schedule
FROM Tambaram West: First bus 3:50 AM | Last bus 9:25 PM | ~65 trips per day
FROM Poonamallee: First bus 4:50 AM | Last bus 9:40 PM | ~64 trips per day
Departure times (from either end): 5:45 AM, 6:00 AM, 6:15 AM, 6:30 AM, 6:45 AM, 7:15 AM, 7:40 AM, 8:10 AM, 8:30 AM, 8:40 AM, 8:47 AM, 8:55 AM, 9:05 AM, 9:15 AM, 9:20 AM, 9:30 AM, 9:40 AM, 10:10 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:25 AM, 11:35 AM, 11:40 AM, 11:50 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:05 PM, 12:15 PM, 12:45 PM, 1:20 PM, 1:45 PM, 2:05 PM, 2:25 PM, 2:35 PM, 2:45 PM, 2:55 PM, 3:10 PM, 3:30 PM, 3:45 PM, 4:05 PM, 4:20 PM, 4:45 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:05 PM, 5:17 PM, 5:25 PM, 5:40 PM, 5:55 PM, 6:10 PM, 6:30 PM, 6:55 PM, 7:10 PM, 7:45 PM, 8:00 PM, 8:05 PM, 8:06 PM, 8:12 PM, 8:30 PM, 8:42 PM, 9:25 PM (Last Bus)
Fare Chart
| Stages | Ordinary (Rs) | Express (Rs) |
| 1 | 6 | 8 |
| 2 | 7 | 10 |
| 3 | 8 | 11 |
| 4 | 9 | 13 |
| 5 | 10 | 14 |
| 6 | 11 | 16 |
| 7 | 12 | 17 |
| 8 | 13 | 19 |
| 9–10 | 14–15 | 20–22 |
| 11–12 | 16 | 23 |
| 13–14 (Full route) | 17 | 25 |
Monthly pass: Rs 2,000 unlimited MTC pass covers Route 66 (from March 2025).
Traveller Tips
Kundrathur connectivity: Route 66 is the primary MTC link for Kundrathur residents. No other high-frequency route connects Kundrathur directly to Tambaram. If travelling between Kundrathur and the railway station or MEPZ, Route 66 is the default option.
Peak hour strategy: The Chromepet–Pallavaram section is the most congested stretch. If travelling between Tambaram and Chromepet only, the suburban train from Tambaram Railway Station to Chromepet runs approximately every 10–15 minutes and is significantly faster during peak hours.
J66 variant: Route J66 is a limited-service variant with only 7 trips per day in each direction and 27 stops (vs 43 on the main 66). Verify stops before boarding J66.
Bus tracking: MTC official website: mtcbus.tn.gov.in. TownBus app and Chennai Travel Route Map app for real-time updates.
Last updated: March 2026. MTC may change route timings, stops, and fares without notice. Always verify at mtcbus.tn.gov.in.
