Kilambakkam Bus Stand (KCBT), Chennai
Kilambakkam bus stand, officially the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT), is Chennai's terminal for every south-bound intercity bus. It opened in December 2023 on GST Road near Vandalur and took over from Koyambedu (CMBT) for all services to southern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala. Buses west to Bengaluru and Vellore still leave from CMBT; buses north to Tirupati and Andhra Pradesh leave from Madhavaram.
If your destination is Puducherry, Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari or anywhere in Kerala, Kilambakkam is your bus stand.
By the numbers
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Area | 88.52 acres, one of India's largest bus terminals |
| Capacity | 215 bus bays across 14 platforms in 8 fingers |
| Daily intercity buses | 1,500+ |
| Passengers | 20,000 to 30,000 on a weekday, over 1 lakh on peak days |
| Distance | 30 km from Chennai Central, 8 km from Tambaram, 20 km from Chennai Airport |
| Operators | SETC, TNSTC, MTC, KSRTC and KSRTC Swift, plus private carriers |
| Nearest railway station | Urapakkam (2 km) and Vandalur (3 km) on the Tambaram to Chengalpattu suburban line |
How to reach Kilambakkam by city bus
MTC runs city buses to Kilambakkam from most parts of Chennai. Routes with a CT or X suffix are limited-stop or express services and are faster. Below are the bus numbers people ask for most, followed by the full table.
Poonamallee to Kilambakkam bus number
66P is the direct bus from Poonamallee to Kilambakkam, with 50-plus trips a day via Porur, Kundrathur and Tambaram. The return, Kilambakkam bus stand to Poonamallee, is the same 66P. From Porur you can also pick up 66K or 166K.
Adyar to Kilambakkam bus number
99A and 99X run from Adyar to Kilambakkam through the day. At night, 95XCT from Thiruvanmiyur passes through Adyar and continues to Kilambakkam, which is useful for late departures.
Velachery to Kilambakkam bus number
51X and 91R connect Velachery to Kilambakkam, with night service available on this corridor. 51AX from T Nagar also stops at Velachery.
Ambattur to Kilambakkam bus number
There is no direct bus from Ambattur to Kilambakkam yet. Take any bus to Avadi and board 104A or 70K, or go to Poonamallee and board 66P. Allow 2 to 2.5 hours in traffic.
Navalur to Kilambakkam bus number
There is no direct bus from Navalur to Kilambakkam yet. Take a bus on OMR to Sholinganallur and change to 555S or 95XCT, both of which run to Kilambakkam via Medavakkam and Tambaram.
Red Hills to Kilambakkam bus number
104K runs from Red Hills to Kilambakkam, with limited trips a day. If you miss it, reach Madhavaram and take 104F, 104M or 70M.
Thiruverkadu to Kilambakkam bus number
111ET is the direct Thiruverkadu to Kilambakkam service, with limited trips. Alternatively reach Poonamallee for 66P or Porur for 166K.
Kilambakkam to Sriperumbudur bus number and timings
583K runs from Kilambakkam to Sriperumbudur via Vandalur, Padappai and Oragadam. First bus about 03:50, last bus about 20:10, journey roughly 1 hour 10 minutes. It also serves Guduvanchery every 5 to 10 minutes on its early stretch.
Kilambakkam to Kundrathur bus number
66K is the direct Kilambakkam to Kundrathur bus, 27 trips daily, continuing to Porur. 66P (Poonamallee) also passes through Kundrathur.
Kilambakkam to Padappai bus number
583K (Sriperumbudur route) and 579K (Walajabad route) both stop at Padappai. 579K runs 9 trips daily via Vandalur.
Kilambakkam to Thirukazhukundram bus number
Take 515M (Kilambakkam to Mahabalipuram, 8 trips daily), which travels via Chengalpattu and Thirukazhukundram. For more frequent service, take 500 to Chengalpattu (frequent) and change to any Mahabalipuram-bound bus at Chengalpattu, about 15 km further.
Full list: MTC bus numbers to Kilambakkam
| Starts from | Route number | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Tambaram | 55V, M18 | Every 10 to 20 min |
| Koyambedu CMBT | 70V, 70C, 104C | Every 15 to 20 min |
| Broadway | 18A, 21G | Every 10 min |
| T Nagar | 51A, 51AX, V51X | Every 10 to 15 min |
| Guindy | 18ACT | Every 3 to 15 min |
| Vadapalani | 66KCT | Every 10 to 15 min |
| Poonamallee | 66P | 50+ trips daily |
| Porur | 166K, 66K, 66P | Frequent |
| Iyyappanthangal | 166X | Every 8 min |
| Thiruvanmiyur | 91, 95, 91K, 95K | Every 8 to 15 min |
| Velachery | 51X, 91R | Frequent, night service available |
| Adyar | 99A, 99X, 95XCT at night | Frequent |
| Sholinganallur | 555S, 95XCT | Frequent |
| Thiruporur | 515T | Frequent |
| Avadi | 104A, 70K, 202X, 206 | Frequent |
| Madhavaram | 104F, 104M, 70M | Frequent |
| Red Hills | 104K | Limited trips daily |
| Thiruverkadu | 111ET | Limited trips daily |
| Kundrathur | 66K | 27 trips daily |
| Sriperumbudur | 583K | 03:50 to 20:10, about 1 h 10 m |
| Padappai | 583K, 579K | On the Sriperumbudur and Walajabad routes |
| Walajabad | 579K | 9 trips daily, via Vandalur and Padappai |
| Chengalpattu | 500 | Frequent |
| Guduvanchery | 583K | Every 5 to 10 min |
| Kovalam | 515K | Hourly, 04:00 to 19:20 |
| Mahabalipuram | 515M | 8 trips daily, via Thirukazhukundram |
| Thiruvallur | 297 | 8 trips daily |
| Chennai Airport | MAA1 | 60+ trips daily |
| Ambattur | No direct bus | Change at Avadi (104A, 70K) or Poonamallee (66P) |
| Navalur | No direct bus | Change at Sholinganallur (555S, 95XCT) |
Other ways to reach Kilambakkam
Suburban train: Tambaram to Chengalpattu line, get off at Urapakkam or Vandalur and take a share auto or the MTC shuttle (about 2 to 3 km).
Airport: MAA1 direct bus, 60-plus trips daily, about 45 minutes.
Car and taxi: GST Road (NH 32), just past Vandalur zoo. Paid parking is available inside the terminus.
Top intercity routes from Kilambakkam
| Destination | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Puducherry | 135 km | 3 h |
| Tiruvannamalai | 160 km | 3 h 30 m |
| Chidambaram | 215 km | 4 h 30 m |
| Kumbakonam | 255 km | 5 h 30 m |
| Tiruchirappalli | 300 km | 6 h |
| Thanjavur | 300 km | 6 h 30 m |
| Velankanni | 310 km | 7 h |
| Madurai | 430 km | 8 h 30 m |
| Coimbatore | 470 km | 9 h 30 m |
| Rameswaram | 540 km | 11 h |
| Tirunelveli | 590 km | 11 h 30 m |
| Kanniyakumari | 690 km | 13 h 30 m |
Platforms at a glance
| Platform | Destinations |
|---|---|
| 1 and 2 | Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur |
| 3 | Madurai, Karaikudi, Sivagangai, Sivakasi |
| 4 | Trichy, Thanjavur, Dindigul, Pollachi |
| 6 | Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Ernakulam |
Platform allocations for Puducherry, Kumbakonam and Kerala sectors are shown on the electronic boards inside the concourse and can change on festival days.
Full route-by-route timings, platform maps and live bus status are coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kilambakkam the same as Kelambakkam?
No. Kilambakkam is the bus terminus on GST Road near Vandalur. Kelambakkam is a different locality on OMR, about 25 km away.
Which bus stand do I use for Bengaluru?
Koyambedu (CMBT), not Kilambakkam.
Which bus stand do I use for Tirupati?
Madhavaram Bus Terminus.
How far is Kilambakkam from Tambaram?
About 8 km, 20 to 30 minutes by 55V or M18.
Is there a night bus to Kilambakkam?
Yes. 95XCT (Thiruvanmiyur, Adyar, Sholinganallur) and the Velachery corridor buses run at night, and airport route MAA1 runs late.