Koyambedu CMBT survival guide — first-timer's walkthrough
Where to buy tickets, which gate your bus leaves from, what NOT to eat at the food court, and how to avoid the auto-rickshaw scam outside.
CMBT (Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus, also called Koyambedu) handles 2,000+ inter-city departures a day. First-timers get lost. Here's the orientation:
Gate layout
CMBT is roughly a giant ring. Southern districts (Madurai, Trichy, Tirunelveli) leave from the southwest gates. Western districts (Coimbatore, Salem, Erode) leave from the northwest. Northern (Vellore, Tirupati, Bangalore) from the northeast. Look for the route number on the LED at each gate — the gate assignment changes by departure, not by destination.
Tickets
- TNSTC / SETC: ticket counters on the inner ring; buy before you board. They DON'T accept UPI at most counters — keep cash.
- Private operators: ticket office on the outer ring next to the gate cluster. Show the operator confirmation SMS.
Food
The food court is loud and average. Better options: the Anjappar branch outside Gate 2, or any of the small mess restaurants in Koyambedu market across the road.
Auto scam
Auto drivers waiting at the gates quote ₹300+ to nearby areas. Use Ola/Uber or walk 5 minutes to Koyambedu metro station — it's the easiest way out.
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