The Chennai to Coimbatore bus leaves from Kilambakkam (KCBT) and runs via Tindivanam and Salem. SETC operates sleeper, AC and ultra deluxe services, the 513-km trip takes about nine and a half to ten hours, and an ultra deluxe seat works out near ₹513 on the official rate.
The numbers
Coimbatore is the longest of Chennai’s main intercity bus runs, and nearly everyone takes it overnight. Since Kilambakkam opened, the government buses start from the city’s southern edge and take GST Road south before turning west, rather than heading out on the Bengaluru highway.
This guide covers where to board, SETC classes and their official per-km fares, the private market, the road via Salem and the arrival points in Coimbatore.
Where the Chennai to Coimbatore bus leaves from
DT Next’s October 2026 holiday boarding guide lists Salem and Coimbatore among the routes leaving Kilambakkam via Tindivanam, along with Villupuram, Ulundurpet and Kallakurichi. The TNSTC booking site lists SETC’s new Volvo multi-axle service on the Coimbatore to Kilambakkam KCBT route, and a separate Bengaluru to Coimbatore service.
Private omni buses pick up at many more points. redBus lists Ashok Pillar, Anna Nagar, Ambattur, Avadi and Chennai Central among boarding points, so west-Chennai residents may find a private pickup nearer than Kilambakkam.
It’s often said Coimbatore buses go out on the Bengaluru highway from Koyambedu.
The record shows Government Coimbatore buses leave Kilambakkam and run via Tindivanam and Salem, per the October 2026 boarding list.
SETC services: sleeper, AC and ultra deluxe
SETC, which runs Tamil Nadu’s long-distance services of over 300 km, has 1,080 buses on 195 routes, according to the Transport Department policy note for 2025-26. Its classes include ultra deluxe, AC seater, AC sleeper, seater-cum-sleeper and non-AC sleeper. Chennai to Coimbatore was among the routes for 20 Volvo 9600 coaches flagged off in December 2025, 15-metre buses with 51 seats, according to Volvo’s press release.
Fares follow per-km rates last revised on 29 January 2018, with lean and peak rates for AC and sleeper classes. At 513 km, the class you choose changes the fare a lot.
| SETC class | Rate per km | Rough fare for 513 km |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra deluxe | 100 paise | about ₹513 |
| AC seater, lean / peak | 110 / 130 paise | about ₹564 / ₹667 |
| Non-AC sleeper, lean / peak | 135 / 155 paise | about ₹693 / ₹795 |
| AC sleeper, lean / peak | 180 / 200 paise | about ₹923 / ₹1026 |
Source: Transport Department Policy Note 2025-26, mofussil fare table (paise per km). Rough fare is rate multiplied by 513 km; actual route distance, tolls and fees change the ticket price.
The arithmetic is a guide only. SETC’s own route distance from Kilambakkam may differ, and booking platforms list fares from about ₹330 to ₹380, so some services come in below it.
How far ahead SETC seats can be booked online or on the app, according to the 2025-26 policy note.
Private sleepers and booking
On 31 October 2026, redBus listed 267 daily services for a weekday, with fares from about ₹380 to nearly ₹10,000 for premium sleepers, and departures through the day and night. Weekend and festival nights cost the most.
Book SETC on the TNSTC site or app, or over WhatsApp on 9444018898. The site lists a toll-free line, 7825812626, and an SETC complaints WhatsApp number, 9445014448. SETC sets aside four seats per bus for women and gives a 10% round-trip concession outside peak periods. Frequent travellers get 50% off from their sixth trip in a month.
Journey time and the road via Salem
Operators listed journey times from 9 hours 22 minutes to 10 hours 7 minutes on redBus. The road runs south on GST Road to Tindivanam and Villupuram, then west from Ulundurpet past Kallakurichi and Attur to Salem, and on through Sankagiri, Perundurai and Avinashi into Coimbatore. Expect one or two food stops overnight.
Getting to Kilambakkam and arriving in Coimbatore
Kilambakkam has its own MTC terminus, and a January 2024 government press release ordered shuttle services between the terminus and Vandalur railway station. MTC route 170A runs from Madhavaram via Koyambedu, Guindy and Tambaram to Vandalur, about every 55 minutes on route data; it does not list KCBT as a stop, so allow for the last leg (frequencies are averages and may be dated).
In Coimbatore, Chennai buses arrive in the Gandhipuram area. redBus’s Gandhipuram bus stand page lists services from Koyambedu ending there and says the omni bus stand for long-distance private buses is about 0.5 km away. Private buses also drop on the approach, at points such as Avinashi Road, so check your ticket.
What this means for you
- Board government Coimbatore buses at Kilambakkam, not Koyambedu.
- For a 10-hour night, a sleeper berth is worth the extra; an ultra deluxe seat is the budget choice.
- Book as soon as the 90-day window opens for Pongal and long weekends.
- If you are heading to Avinashi Road or Peelamedu, pick a private drop point on the way in.
Quick answers
Where does the Chennai to Coimbatore bus leave from?
Government buses leave from Kilambakkam (KCBT). Private buses also pick up at points such as Ashok Pillar, Anna Nagar and Avadi.
How much is the bus fare from Chennai to Coimbatore?
On the official rates, an SETC ultra deluxe seat works out near ₹513 and an AC sleeper between about ₹923 and ₹1026, before tolls and fees. redBus listed weekday fares from about ₹380 on 31 October 2026.
How long does the Chennai to Coimbatore bus take?
About 9 hours 20 minutes to 10 hours, per operators’ listed times.
Which route does the Chennai to Coimbatore bus take?
GST Road to Tindivanam, then via Ulundurpet, Attur and Salem, and on through Perundurai and Avinashi.
Is there an SETC Volvo bus from Chennai to Coimbatore?
Yes. SETC’s Volvo 9600 coaches, introduced in December 2025, include the Chennai to Coimbatore route.
What to watch
Pending: Kilambakkam railway station
The suburban station next to the terminus is still awaiting its skywalk. Once open, it will be the easiest way to reach Coimbatore buses by train.
Pending: fare revision
SETC rates have been unchanged since January 2018, per the policy note. A revision would change every figure above.
Checked against official sources on 31 October 2026. Timings and fares change; confirm on the operator’s booking site before you travel.
Sources
- Demand No. 48, Transport Department Policy Note 2025-26 (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- TNSTC/SETC online reservation home page (Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations)
- Press Release No. 69: review of Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus, Kilambakkam (DIPR, Government of Tamil Nadu, 9 January 2024)
- Volvo 9600 coaches flagged off by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Volvo Buses India press release, December 2025
- Route 170A: Madhavaram B.S. to Vandaloor Zoo, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Chennai to Coimbatore bus route page (redBus), viewed 31 October 2026
- Gandhipuram bus stand page (redBus), viewed 31 October 2026
- Aayudha Pooja holidays travel guide: special buses, boarding points and routes (DT Next, 16 October 2026)
