Route 91 at a Glance

Operating Schedule and Timings

Weekly Schedule

Bus Frequency

During off-peak hours, you can expect a bus approximately every 14 minutes from either end.

During peak hours (7 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 8 PM) buses run more frequently, but this route is known to get overcrowded at Tambaram especially between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM. Regular commuters report bunching at these times and recommend boarding at the Tambaram terminus rather than intermediate stops to secure a seat.

Journey Time Estimates Between Major Stops

All Stops on Route 91 — With Landmarks and Local Context

Route 91 travels along the 200 Feet Radial Road (Inner Ring Road) — one of Chennai’s most important arterial roads — connecting the railway town of Tambaram in the south to the beach-side suburb of Thiruvanmiyur in the north. The route passes through several of Chennai’s most important southern localities.

Stop 1: Tambaram (Terminus)

Tambaram is the southern anchor of this route and one of Chennai’s most significant suburban hubs. The West Bus Stand at Tambaram is the boarding point for Route 91.

Stop 2: T.B. Sanatorium (Tambaram Sanatorium)

The Tambaram Sanatorium stop is named after the historic tuberculosis sanatorium established here in the colonial era. The area retains a quiet, green character compared to the busier Tambaram commercial strip.

Stop 3: Chromepet

Chromepet is a major residential and commercial locality midway between Tambaram and Pallavaram. It is an important stop with high boarding and alighting, particularly from residents of surrounding colonies.

Stop 4: Pallavaram New Bridge

This stop sits at the northern end of Pallavaram, just after the bridge crossing the Adyar River. Pallavaram has transformed significantly in 2024-26 and is now one of Chennai’s fastest-growing real estate markets.

Stop 5: Vels University

Named after the Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS) — one of Tamil Nadu’s prominent private universities — this stop serves the Ganapathipuram area on the 200 Feet Road.

Stop 6: D.J. Mat. School (Pallava Garden)

This stop is commonly referred to as D.J. Mat. School or Pallava Garden Bus Stop, serving the residential pockets on either side of the 200 Feet Road in this section.

Stop 7: Echankadu (Eachangadu Junction)

Eachangadu Junction is a key intersection on the 200 Feet Radial Road where several roads branch off toward Kovilambakkam, Medavakkam, and interior areas. The Pallikaranai Marshland (a protected ecological zone) lies to the east of this area.

Stop 8: Sunnambu Kolathur

Sunnambu Kolathur (also called S. Kolathur) is a residential area on the 200 Feet Road adjacent to the Pallikaranai area. The name Sunnambu Kolathur translates roughly to ‘lime pond colony’, referencing the area’s historical land use.

Stop 9: Kamatchi Hospital

The Kamatchi Hospital stop is on State Highway 109, near one of the area’s well-known private hospitals. This section of the route runs along the western edge of the Pallikaranai Marshland.

Stop 10: 230 K.V. Tower

This stop is named after the large high-voltage electricity transmission tower that stands as a prominent landmark near the Thoraipakkam junction area. The Pallikaranai Marshland is visible here.

Stop 11: Thoraipakkam Checkpost

Thoraipakkam Checkpost is the gateway into the OMR (Old Mahabalipuram Road) IT corridor — the stretch that houses Chennai’s largest concentration of IT companies, SEZs, and tech parks.

Stop 12: Thoraipakkam Tea Shop

A secondary stop within the Thoraipakkam locality, named after a well-known local tea shop that serves as an informal landmark. This stop provides additional access to the Thoraipakkam commercial and residential zones.

Stop 13: Kandanchavadi

Kandanchavadi is one of the most important stops on this route for IT commuters. It lies at the heart of the OMR tech corridor with multiple major IT parks within walking distance or a short auto ride.

Stop 14: SRP Tools

The SRP Tools stop (also called SRP Tools Junction) is named after the SRP Tools industrial landmark on LB Road approaching Thiruvanmiyur. This is the penultimate stop before the terminus.

Stop 15: Thiruvanmiyur (Terminus)

Thiruvanmiyur is the northern terminus of Route 91 and one of Chennai’s most well-connected southern suburbs. It sits at the junction of the MRTS network, ECR, and LB Road — making it a major interchange point.

Route 91 Variants — Which One Should You Take?

MTC operates several variations of the 91 series on this corridor. Knowing which variant goes where can save you significant time.

Note: The 91V variant is particularly useful for residents of Velachery as it stops at Velachery Railway Station — giving access to the suburban railway and Velachery MRTS.

Bus Fare Chart – Route 91

MTC fares are stage-based. Every few kilometres of travel constitutes one stage. The fare includes a cess of Rs 1.

Practical fare guide for Route 91:

• Tambaram to Chromepet (short hop): Rs 6 to Rs 8 ordinary
• Tambaram to Thoraipakkam (mid-journey): Rs 12 to Rs 16 ordinary
• Tambaram to Thiruvanmiyur (full route, 21.5 km): Rs 22 to Rs 25 ordinary
• Concessional fares: Students with valid ID, senior citizens, and differently-abled passengers are entitled to concessional or free travel under MTC and Tamil Nadu government schemes
• Monthly passes: Available at Tambaram and Thiruvanmiyur depots for regular commuters — significantly reduces daily commute cost

Interchange and Connectivity Guide

Route 91 connects to multiple other transport modes along its length. Here is a full interchange guide for passengers.

Who Uses Route 91 — Commuter Profiles

Understanding who travels on Route 91 gives you insight into peak hours, crowding patterns, and the best times to travel.

IT Professionals — The Largest User Group

Route 91 is heavily used by IT professionals living in Tambaram, Chromepet, Pallavaram, and surrounding areas who work in the OMR IT corridor at Thoraipakkam, Kandanchavadi, and Perungudi. These commuters typically board at Tambaram between 8 AM and 9:30 AM and return in the evening between 6 PM and 8 PM. This makes the morning and evening peak windows the most crowded on this route.

Students

Vels University (VISTAS) students are regular users, boarding at various stops and alighting at the Vels University stop. Students from schools in Chromepet and Pallavaram also use the route. Student travel is heaviest between 8 AM and 9 AM and between 4 PM and 5:30 PM.

Healthcare Workers and Patients

The Kamatchi Hospital stop draws hospital staff and patients from the surrounding Pallikaranai and Kovilambakkam areas. Government hospital outpatients from Tambaram Sanatorium area also use the early morning services.

Daily Shoppers and Market Visitors

Residents of the residential areas along the 200 Feet Road use Route 91 for access to Chromepet market, Pallavaram commercial areas, and to connect onward to T Nagar via Thiruvanmiyur.

Traveller Tips for Route 91

Best Time to Travel

• Earliest and least crowded: 5:35 AM to 7:30 AM from Tambaram — good for those who want a comfortable seated journey
• Avoid if possible: 8 AM to 10 AM from Tambaram — heavily overcrowded due to IT professional peak travel
• Mid-morning sweet spot: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM — post-peak, much less crowded
• Evening peak: 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM in both directions — crowded again
• Evening light travel: After 8:30 PM buses are much lighter

How to Get a Seat

• Board at the Tambaram terminus (West Bus Stand) rather than intermediate stops — buses originate here so you have first choice of seats
• Similarly from Thiruvanmiyur, board at the depot terminus for best seat availability
• On the 91V variant, boarding at Velachery Railway Station gives a secondary opportunity for a seat as many passengers alight there

How to Track Your Bus

• Use the Moovit app (moovitapp.com) — it has real-time tracking for MTC Route 91 and shows the next arrival time at your stop
• The WhereIsMyBus app also tracks some MTC routes in real time
• MTC has a WhatsApp-based information service — check the MTC website or depot for the current number
• For real-time updates, the MTC official website is mtcbus.tn.gov.in

If Route 91 is Unavailable or Full

• 91V: Same corridor, slightly different stops via Velachery — good alternative
• 91ET: Express version, fewer stops, faster — check if your stop is served
• AC-91: If you need AC comfort, this is the air-conditioned version of the same corridor
• T51: Alternative route from East Tambaram via Medavakkam and Shollinganallur to Thiruvanmiyur — takes longer but an alternative for OMR

Major Landmarks and Points of Interest Along Route 91

Route History — From A21 to Route 91

Route 91 has an interesting history. It was originally operated as Route A21 on the Tambaram to Thiruvanmiyur corridor. The A21 was one of MTC’s busier southern routes connecting Tambaram’s railway junction to Thiruvanmiyur along the 200 Feet Radial Road (Inner Ring Road).

As passenger demand on this corridor grew — particularly due to the expansion of the OMR IT corridor in the 2000s and 2010s — MTC reorganised the route numbering and expanded service with multiple variants including 91V, 91G, and 91ET. The designation changed from XA21 (Express A21) format to the current 91-series numbering.

The introduction of the AC-91 variant is a more recent development, reflecting growing passenger demand for air-conditioned bus travel on this high-use IT commuter corridor.

About MTC Chennai — Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions — Route 91

Does Route 91 run on Sundays and public holidays?

Yes. Route 91 operates every day including Sundays and public holidays. On Sundays the first bus from Tambaram starts slightly later at 5:45 AM (vs 5:35 AM on weekdays).

What is the last bus on Route 91?

The last bus from Tambaram departs at approximately 10:07 PM. The last bus from Thiruvanmiyur departs at approximately 9:10 PM. Timings are subject to change — always verify with MTC or use the Moovit app for current schedules.

Is there an AC bus on the Tambaram to Thiruvanmiyur route?

Yes. The AC-91 is an air-conditioned MTC bus operating on the Tambaram West Bus Station to Thiruvanmiyur corridor with 25 stops and a journey time of approximately 47 minutes. The fare for AC services is higher than ordinary service — check the Moovit app or MTC website for current AC-91 timings.

How many buses run per day on Route 91?

Route 91 runs approximately 65 to 70 one-way trips per day — making it one of the more frequent routes in the southern Chennai network. From Thiruvanmiyur there are about 70 trips daily toward Tambaram, and approximately 65 trips from Tambaram toward Thiruvanmiyur.

Does Route 91 go to TIDEL Park?

Route 91 does not stop inside TIDEL Park. However, the Kandanchavadi stop is the closest stop to TIDEL Park — from there it is a 10 to 15 minute walk or a short auto-rickshaw ride to the TIDEL Park entrance on OMR.

How long does Route 91 take from Tambaram to Thiruvanmiyur?

The end-to-end journey takes approximately 55 to 65 minutes under normal traffic conditions. During peak hours (8 AM to 10 AM and 5:30 PM to 8 PM), congestion on the 200 Feet Road and Pallikaranai stretch can add 15 to 20 minutes to the journey.

What is the difference between Route 91 and Route 91V?

Route 91 runs strictly between Tambaram and Thiruvanmiyur via the 200 Feet Radial Road. Route 91V extends further south to Guduvanchery and also makes a loop via Velachery Railway Station — giving residents of Velachery and the Guduvanchery area a direct connection on the same corridor. 91V has more stops (28 to 35 depending on direction) and takes slightly longer.

How do I complain about Route 91 bus service?

You can register a complaint with MTC through their official website at mtcbus.tn.gov.in, at any MTC depot in person, or via the MTC helpline. Mention the route number, bus number (displayed on the bus), date, time, and stop where the issue occurred for faster resolution.

Is Route 91 overcrowded?

Yes, particularly during peak hours. Commuters on MTC forums consistently report overcrowding at Tambaram between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM and again in the evening between 6 PM and 7:30 PM. The best strategy is to board at either terminus (Tambaram or Thiruvanmiyur) rather than at intermediate stops during peak hours.

Last updated: March 2026. MTC may change route timings, stops, and fares without notice. Always verify current information with MTC Chennai before travel.