The Pallavan Transport Corporation (PTC) was the major urban transport service provider for the city of Madras and its environs. The Corporation had introduced faster services (by reducing bus stoppages), called V and J services, for city buses over some routes. Towards the end of 1987, about 15% of the buses were employed on these services. These services resulted in better vehicle and employee productivity, fuel savings and faster services at ordinary fares. The Senior Deputy Manager planned to extend these services to around 50% of the buses within two years. He had information of the maximum, assumed and actual speed of the buses employed in these services, and also of the accidents and route profitability. Issues such as increasing noise pollution, speeding and disregard of traffic regulations were also of concern.