Bus Service Resumes in Coimbatore's Anna Nagar After 21-Year Hiatus Due to Caste Bias

In Coimbatore, the residents of Anna Nagar are celebrating the return of a bus service that had been halted for 21 years due to alleged caste-based discrimination. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus, which operates on the Gandhipuram-Kembanur route, was extended to Anna Nagar on Saturday. This development follows a campaign by the residents and intervention by Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu, who assured the community of action during his visit to Coimbatore on May 30. The issue was initially highlighted by The New Indian Express in August 2025, bringing attention to the discrimination faced by the Scheduled Caste (SC) residents. The district administration, TNSTC, and police collaborated to ensure the bus service resumed, with police protection provided during its operation. Residents, along with members of TVK and VCK, celebrated the bus's arrival by distributing sweets. Vanni Arasu interacted with the residents via video call, receiving their gratitude. A resident, D Kittan, explained that the bus service had been opposed by members of the dominant caste, who did not want SC residents to be seated before them. Despite previous attempts to resume the service, it was only after a concerted effort involving petitions to various authorities and demonstrations by Left organizations that the bus service was reinstated. In addition to bus number 21, five other buses now operate to Anna Nagar for a few trips, marking a significant victory for the community.