Commuters showed their love for the Chennai Metro Rail by thronging the stations on its first day and welcoming it even on social media. But if this patronage has to last then the travel has to become seamless with the integration of Metro Rail with other modes of transport.
Officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) said they have already made plans for a feeder service and conducted a study for two months to assess the routes that connect the stations. They arrived at 30 routes around the seven stations. While small buses and MTC buses will ply on bigger routes, they plan to have share autos in some narrow roads that lead to the station. “The para-transit modes will cover a distance of five kilometres around every station,” an official said.
Besides, officials explain that stations are only 300 meters away from bus stands or railway stations. Platforms for easy access to the stations have been laid.
CMRL will also be syncing the frequency of Metro Rail trains with that of MTC buses. “We are also planning common tickets and a timetable,” added the official. But such feeder services should be put in place as soon as possible since the Metro Rail has become operational.
Christopher Kost of ITDP said, “Such a mass rapid transit system would be successful only if it makes travel seamless. If people have to pay fares as high as Rs. 40, then they shouldn’t be made to use private transport to reach stations or have difficulty accessing the stations; they need good access through low-cost feeder modes.”
