A single smart card will be made available for almost 32 forms of transport modes
Picture for representational purpose
Chennai: Travelling in the city will soon be hassle free with the use of smart cards in almost all modes of commuting, including share autos and call taxis.According to top sources in the transport department, a single smart card will be made available for almost 32 forms of transport modes in the city, when the much awaited metro rail arrives.
“The system being developed by the CMRL will allow a smart card to be used for electronic payment in all modes of transport including metro, MTC and even share autos and call taxis,” said a top official. “The plan is to integrate all the transport systems so that there is no break in the journey of the end user. The integration will be at various levels including rail and road transport,” the official said.
Sources added that though the development of the smart card is in the process and various issues including modes of payment and integration with banking services is being planned, the running of metro alone will be a starting point.
“We are waiting for the metro to start, to commence the integration process and take it further,” a senior transport department official said. In addition, if things go as planned, the city may soon have a Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS). According sources in the transport department, a committee is being formed to conduct a feasibility test for having a BRTS in the city.
A top official said, “We are forming a committee to conduct the survey in various parts of the city looking into the feasibility of the system.”According to transport experts, the system would enhance the existing transportation facilities in the city. But they also point out that it won’t be a replacement for MTC, which carries more than 50 lakh passengers a day, owing to space constraints.
The system has its precursors in Mexico and Bogota where reportedly it is being hailed a success. In India too, Ahmadabad has been of a good precedence, say experts.Retired professor of urban engineering in Anna University, K.P. Subramanian says, “Although late, it is a good step. The BRTS is a blend of both bus and rail system with dedicated lanes and a door-to-door reach. Especially in case of the IT corridor the system would do well. But the frequency must be good to cater to the crowd.”
The Institute of Transportation and Development has been advocating the BRTS for the city for long. In 2012, the institute also submitted a feasibility report to the government on having a BRTS on the OMR.
Chris Kast, technical director of the ITDP says, “According to projections by the CMRL the metro would be catering to seven lakh trips a day, which still leaves many quarter uncovered. This can be complimented by the BRTS. In an integrated fashion both can work.”
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