Metro, not yet a feasible option for Chennai commuters

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has spent over Rs 85,000 crore on the Chennai metro rail project, but is the “modern equipment” and “seamless travel experience” even worth it with trains running almost empty even at peak hours?

When the underground stretches from Chennai Central to the airport of the Chennai metro was inaugurated in May 2018, it promised travel across the city without the hassle of being refused by cab drivers and getting fleeced by auto drivers. However, with stations being away from the final destination of a passenger, the usage has been low, say experts.

According to a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment, Chennai has the longest average length of trips in private vehicles. This means that the share of public transport ridership in the city is low, Anumitha Roychowdhury, Research director, CSE said.

The one unique feature that a metro stretch so new has is that it connects three major points of public transport - Chennai Central, Koyambedu and the airport. "The best thing is that I can take the metro from Central, close to where I live, to airport, which would cost about Rs 400 in a cab, for 70 rupees,” says Shivam, a techie in the city. 

In addition, the price factor could be a major reason that the metro isn't being used as much, passengers believe. “The metro fills up at Central and people only get off at the airport. You know the kind of crowd which goes to the airport, with bags and everything. Nobody gets off anywhere else,” says Shivam.  

The people who access the metro is limited. Dependence on other forms of transport too could add to the cause.  “If I have to travel from Central to Guindy, it would cost me Rs 70. If I have to do that daily, it would turn out to be expensive,” says Nisha, who works at a private firm in Guindy. For her, the MRTS trains are a more feasible option. 

The government has been initiating several steps to ensure last mile connectivity, , say officials. “A metro feeder service has been inaugurated in some stations where private share autos have tied up with the metro to pick people from the station itself. You can be dropped off to certain landmarks using it,” an official of the CMRCL said. Some private initiatives which allow the hiring of bicycles has also cropped up. “We are trying to do everything we can, it will take time,” the official said.