Free rides end, metro footfall drops 50%
85,000 Use Phase-I Line Daily, CMRL Eyes 1L Mark
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:16.02.109
Footfall in metro stations dropped by more than 50% a day after Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) ended free rides across its 45-km corridors. On Thursday, around 86,312 people travelled in metro trains. Officials had expected the ridership to touch one lakh, as the 45-km phase I is completely operational.
CMRL opened its corridors for free commute after the 10-km stretch from Washermenpet to AG-DMS was inaugurated on February 10. The free rides continued till February 13, as officials said, the time was utilized to stabilize its system and regularise the frequency of trains.
“It would have been unfair and disappointing to commuters if we had charged for tickets without operating trains on time. So, we had decided to offer free rides,” an official said.
In the four days, more than seven lakh people travelled on metro trains with an average of two lakhs every day. However, when CMRL began charging for the service on Thursday, there was a significant, 57% dip.
Before the inauguration of the last leg from Washermenpet to AG-DMS, CMRL had an average ridership of 60,000 taking trains.
While the new passenger count shows a rise of more than 20,000, it is still short of the one lakh a day ridership figure CMRL officials expected to record.
“The stations may be open now, but a few of the new stations are not close to bus stops or do not have options like share taxis or autos, which we can take to our destination,” said Shankaran, a working professional, who exited at Thousand Lights station.
Metro rail officials said soon feeder services, including share auto and taxis, will be introduced in the newly opened stations to provide commuters last mile connectivity. Tenders have also been issued to extend the share services, which is available in 13 stations, to all stations.
With majority of stations at the heart of the city and accessible through metro trains from transit hubs like Central, Egmore, Koyambedu and Airport for a fare of ₹40 or ₹50, and with the launch of feeder services soon, CMRL officials said they are hopeful to the see patronage touch one lakh in the coming months.
Commuters, however, still find the ticket fares to be high, as several complaints on social networking sites continue to blame the ticket fares for the poor patronage.
BETTER PROSPECTS: With feeder services to be introduced soon in new stations, CMRL officials hope the patronage to go up
The stations may be open now, but a few of the new stations are not close to bus stops or do not have options like share taxis or autos, which we can take to our destination
Shankaran | A WORKING PROFESSIONAL & METRO COMMUTER
85,000 Use Phase-I Line Daily, CMRL Eyes 1L Mark
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:16.02.109
Footfall in metro stations dropped by more than 50% a day after Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) ended free rides across its 45-km corridors. On Thursday, around 86,312 people travelled in metro trains. Officials had expected the ridership to touch one lakh, as the 45-km phase I is completely operational.
CMRL opened its corridors for free commute after the 10-km stretch from Washermenpet to AG-DMS was inaugurated on February 10. The free rides continued till February 13, as officials said, the time was utilized to stabilize its system and regularise the frequency of trains.
“It would have been unfair and disappointing to commuters if we had charged for tickets without operating trains on time. So, we had decided to offer free rides,” an official said.
In the four days, more than seven lakh people travelled on metro trains with an average of two lakhs every day. However, when CMRL began charging for the service on Thursday, there was a significant, 57% dip.
Before the inauguration of the last leg from Washermenpet to AG-DMS, CMRL had an average ridership of 60,000 taking trains.
While the new passenger count shows a rise of more than 20,000, it is still short of the one lakh a day ridership figure CMRL officials expected to record.
“The stations may be open now, but a few of the new stations are not close to bus stops or do not have options like share taxis or autos, which we can take to our destination,” said Shankaran, a working professional, who exited at Thousand Lights station.
Metro rail officials said soon feeder services, including share auto and taxis, will be introduced in the newly opened stations to provide commuters last mile connectivity. Tenders have also been issued to extend the share services, which is available in 13 stations, to all stations.
With majority of stations at the heart of the city and accessible through metro trains from transit hubs like Central, Egmore, Koyambedu and Airport for a fare of ₹40 or ₹50, and with the launch of feeder services soon, CMRL officials said they are hopeful to the see patronage touch one lakh in the coming months.
Commuters, however, still find the ticket fares to be high, as several complaints on social networking sites continue to blame the ticket fares for the poor patronage.
BETTER PROSPECTS: With feeder services to be introduced soon in new stations, CMRL officials hope the patronage to go up
The stations may be open now, but a few of the new stations are not close to bus stops or do not have options like share taxis or autos, which we can take to our destination
Shankaran | A WORKING PROFESSIONAL & METRO COMMUTER
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