High ticket cost - Metro trains in Chennai are used mostly by IT professionals, upper middle class etc but what about the unorganised sector workers?
Posted on: 04/Aug/2022 9:43:45 AM
How many of us are aware of the fact that metro trains in Chennai have not reached people belonging to all economic status?
Point is that there are people belonging to varying economic status in Chennai. Though many use metro trains to reach their destinations, these trains are not used by the workers belonging to the unorganised sector. It is well known that CMRL has been taking huge efforts from 2015 onwards to increase the metro train patronage. Truth is that in the last 7 years CMRL has got dedicated commuters but the unorganised sector hasn`t been tapped.
As per a Koyambedu resident who is working as a housekeeper in Kilpauk, it was clear that she had travelled in metro trains in 2018 just once and that to get the experience. She added that her salary was low and hence she was unable to use metro trains. Auto or MTC buses are mostly preferred by her to reach her destination from her house. A painter mentioned that he preferred to travel by MRTS as it was cheap and user friendly.
There is a wrong belief among the domestic workers, daily wagers and others that metro trains are meant only for upper middle class and for IT professionals etc. This was according to Mrs. Veni Thyagaraju, coordinator of Penn Thozhilalargal Sangam.
She cited the reason for this wrong assumption amongst the workers of unorganised sections was due to high ticket cost in the metro trains when compared to others like MTC and MRTS etc. Last mile connectivity is often an issue and due to this many unorganised workers do not prefer metro trains.
The data from CMRL has brought to light that the ridership has been increasing in the metro trains in Chennai. From January 2022 onwards 3.01 crore passengers have used metro trains and in July month alone more than 53 lakh passengers used metro trains.
It was highlighted by an employee belonging to a communication company that the metro stations in Chennai were not user friendly especially to senior citizens. He added that lack of sign boards is an issue for the senior persons.
