A Anandan, steering the bus bound for Thoraipakkam from Maraimalai Nagar with employees of a private company onboard, developed severe chest pain near a hospital in suburban Tambaram, police said.
Showing presence of mind, he managed to slow down the bus and parked it on the side of the road and then collapsed.
"He almost died at the wheel after halting the bus. When he was rushed to a hospital, he was pronounced dead on arrival," a Police official said.
Anandan, a native of Vandavasi in Tiruvannamalai District was staying at a rented accommodation at suburban Keelkattalai.