Sunitha Sekar CHENNAI Jun 29, 2022 10:53 AM IST
Updated: June 29, 2022, 12:50 PM IST
Sunitha Sekar CHENNAI Jun 29, 2022 10:53 AM IST
Updated: June 29, 2022, 12:50 PM IST
With almost impeccable punctuality, it serves more than 1.7 lakh passengers daily.
With almost impeccable punctuality, it serves more than 1.7 lakh passengers daily.
On June 29, 2015, the first Chennai Metro Rail train departed from Koyambedu to Alandur, covering only 10 km. Today, seven years later, the trains run for lakhs of km and carry more than 11.7 crore passengers. While the Phase I and Phase I expansion network of this massive rapid transit system is rather too limited, covering only 54 km from the city, it did benefit people who needed to catch a train, bus, or flight outside the city, such as Metro Rail connects all major transport hubs in the city.
Since 2015, the punctuality of the Metro Rail system has been commendable, with consistent registration of over 98%. From taking in just an average of 10,000 passengers per day, Chennai Metro Rail now serves more than 1.7 lakh passengers daily. Aside from comfort, one of the main reasons for this is that the system has been quite reliable, except for a few breakdowns due to technical issues. In 2015, the trains had a punctuality rate of 98.5% for the period between June and December. Over the years, it has only increased further, with 2021-22 having the highest punctuality rate of 99.88%. This year, until June 23, the punctuality rate is 99.80%.
According to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) officials, they have aimed for 99.9%. “It is extremely difficult to run services without a single technical glitch. But if there is one, we will rectify it immediately so that passengers are not affected. This is important because many passengers will always catch a train or flight and cannot afford to be late. So if people are to rely on our system, we need to make sure that the trains are always on time and that they know they can reach their destination on time,” an official said.
Passengers say that while the system is convenient, it still has a lot of flaws that need to be ironed out for it to run smoothly in the future. SM Govindaraj, a Chromepet resident who travels to Government Estate via Chennai Metro, says: “The reliability and comfort are some of the main reasons I use this system. Unlike buses here, I know I will get to my job on time. Destination will be.” But lowering fares and parking fees, adding more passenger facilities such as station escalators, better crowd management, and signage are needed to improve the system.
Experts say the system can borrow some of the best practices from other systems worldwide. KP Subramanian, the urban planning expert, says: “Singapore has a well-integrated transport system; in London, there is a transit-oriented development, such as having shops in most stations. They can look to Seoul to see how punctual the trains are,” he adds. Our Code of Editorial Values
