On Tuesday, a bus plying between Sathyamangalam and Thalavadi via Thalamalai reached the settlement at 7:30 a.m. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
A long-pending demand of the residents of Kalithimbam, a tribal village in Thalavadi block, has been fulfilled after the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) started bus services to the hamlet, facilitating hassle-free transportation for students and senior citizens.
Recently, S. Annadurai, Director of Tribal Welfare, visited the village, interacted with the residents and stayed overnight. He listened to their complaints, especially the lack of bus connections. Residents said they had to walk nearly two kilometers through dense forest to reach the main road to board buses.
Around 70 Irular tribal families commute daily to the plains and other mountainous areas for work. In the absence of bus facility, the students faced difficulties in traversing the forest stretch and tried to introduce at least two services – one in the morning and the other in the evening. A report titled “Residents seek bus service to Kalithimbam tribal village in Erode” was published in The Hindu on 7 February 2026. Subsequently, Mr. Annadurai asked Collector S. Kandasamy to fulfill the residents’ demand. The Collector directed the TNSTC to run regular services to the settlement in the morning and evening.
On Tuesday, a bus plying between Sathyamangalam and Thalavadi via Thalamalai reached the village at 7.30 am, allowing 10 to 20 students and workers to travel safely. The driver and guide were warmly welcomed by the residents. The return flight is scheduled to arrive at 18:30
Published – 17 Feb 2026 12:59 IST