In Chennai, for providing last mile metro train connectivity, 120 buses would be used
Posted on: 05/Jun/2019 10:07:10 AM
Providing the last mile connectivity is very important to increase the number of commuters using metro trains in Chennai. The important information that has come out is CMRL would require 122 feeder buses and more than 800 bicycles for the purpose of providing last mile connectivity and for attracting more people. It is said that this 122 feeder buses and more than 800 bicycles would be needed when CMRL or Chennai Metro Rail Limited starts its operations on the first leg of the 118.2 km phase-2 by the year 2025. It must be noted that CMRL would be operating more than 130 metro trains.
By the year 2055, CMRL has projected that double the numbers 269 feeder buses and 1397 bicycles on rent would be required to provide an efficient inter-modal transport system. It is now brought out that providing last mile connectivity is a must if CMRL wants to achieve a majority of daily ridership of 19.2 lakhs by the year 2025. By early next year, CMRL would be beginning the construction of 52 km priority corridor from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur and CMBT and it would be ready by 2024-25. In the same time, the construction of other 3 stretches is likely to begin.
There are totally 32 metro stations in Chennai and out of these 32 in as many as 16 metro stations, MTC small buses are being operated. These metro stations include CMBT, Vadapalani, Guindy and Central. In 13 metro stations in Chennai, CMRL also operates share autos and taxis etc are known. Point is few newly opened metro stations present between Washermanpet and AG-DMS do not have the last mile connectivity for the passengers. The interesting information collected is after 3 years since CMRL has started its operations in Chennai, the daily ridership touched one lakh.
It must be noted that the services touched one lakh a day in the month of April 2019 and the ridership dropped again. The reason quoted was due to the lack of last mile connectivity for the commuters.
It was mentioned by an official belonging to CMRL that good response was received on the share auto and taxi services started last year. He revealed that in August all the 32 metro stations would have share autos and share taxi services for the commuters. One important piece of information is the current feeder services help the commuters to reach their destined places from the metro stations but the feeder services were not of huge help for those who want to reach the metro stations from their destinations.
According to Nashwa Naushad who is a senior associate, ITDP, to encourage more people to utilize metro train services then more small buses and more share autos must be introduced at frequent intervals of time.
