Reason why the public might not use metro trains for daily commute in north Chennai
Posted on: 19/Feb/2021 9:19:32 AM
In the last 3 days, an average of 9000 people travelled in the metro trains on the new line between Washermenpet and Wimco Nagar in Chennai. The passengers are unhappy now regarding the ticket rates that are high. It is now revealed by some passengers that they would not use metro trains for their daily commute if CMRL does not reduce the ticket rates. When compared to MTC bus tickets or share auto rate, the money spent on metro train tickets is twice or sometimes three times also.
It was brought out by a resident belonging to Washermenpet that he spent Rs 40 for the metro train ticket from his residence in Washermenpet to Tiruvottriyur where his office was located. He added that he used to spend Rs 10 for one-way bus tickets on MTC buses. He concluded that he would not be able to use metro trains daily as he cannot afford for high ticket rates.
For shorter distances, travelling by metro trains is costly but longer distance travel of more than 15km using metro trains is cheaper. A marketing executive from Korukkupet mentioned that in a share auto just Rs 20 is the cost for the travel from Washermenpet to Thiruvottiyur whereas in the metro trains the cost is twice. He threw light on how short distances like Wimco Nagar to Kaladipet of around 2km cost Rs 20 and how he cannot afford daily. Ever since the first line opened for the public in the year 2015 from Koyambedu to Alandur, ticket price reduction has been an issue. This has been given as the main reason for the poor patronage in the metro trains.
As per Mr. Ernest Paul, coordinator North Chennai Peoples Right Federation, there are 7lakhs daily workers from north Chennai who cannot afford metro train services due to high ticket cost. He wanted CMRL to bring the ticket cost down. It must be recalled that recently the city based NGO Traffic and Transportation Forum wrote a letter to the PM of India requesting him to interfere and reduce the metro train ticket fares. It was pointed out by the director of NGO, Mr. Rama Rao that CMRL needs to reduce the ticket fares from price starting from Rs 10 and capped at Rs 35. He was of the view that unless CMRL reduces the prices the metro trains would remain a distant dream for poor class and middle classes.
