Restaurants, eateries at Tiruchi's Central Bus Stand see drop in business as Panjapur terminus becomes fully functional

The Hindu

17-07-2025

Hotels and restaurants situated around the Central Bus Stand in the city have witnessed a decline in business after the Integrated Bus Terminus (IBT) at Panjapur became fully functional on Wednesday.
The Central Bus Stand was busy until Tuesday with the operation of a number of government-owned and private sector buses. Hundreds of inbound and outbound domestic travellers used the bus stand as a transit point to go to their cities, towns. and villages.
According to sources, about 15 hotels function around the bus stand to cater to the needs of the transit passengers. Almost all of them are attached to restaurants. In addition to them, there are some food joints and roadside eateries to cater to the needs of all types of customers. Since the shifting of bus operation to the IBT, the Central Bus Stand wears a deserted look. Only the city buses are operated from it. The long-distance buses and the omni buses have been moved to the IBT.
It has had its impact in the business of hotels and restaurants. According to industry sources, the eateries and restaurants situated in the bus stand have reported a business drop of more than 50%. The restaurants situated in the immediate outer periphery of the bus stand reported more than 30% business drop. Anticipating poor patronage, owners of some eateries chose to shut them. Hotels and lodges report 5% to 10% drop in occupancy rate.
'We witnessed about 10% to 20% business drop since the shifting of bus operations to Panjapur. We face a sharp decline in business in the evening and night hours,' says manager of a popular restaurant at the Central Bus Stand.
However, hoteliers are of the view that they do not encounter immediate impact in the occupancy rate. They say that except for one of two lodges most of them are not depending upon the customers, who visit Tiruchi by bus. Many of these hotels are functioning for decades and they have a strong customer base.
'We are studying the impact. However, we do not foresee a significant drop in occupancy rate. If it comes down, it will be due to the absence of marriage season in the Tamil month of Aadi,' says S. Gopal, partner, Hotel Ajantha.
Echoing the same opinion, S.P. Annamalai, Managing Director of PLA Krishna Inn said that star class hotels close to the Central Bus Stand did not depend on bus travellers. The hotels had a long list of regular customers.
Mr. Gopal said there was no hotel at Panjapur at the moment. Hence, the bus travellers, who wanted to stay in Tiruchi, have to visit check in at the hotels around the Central Bus Stand.