TN doubles minimum auto fares

TN doubles minimum auto fares

28.10.2026 THE HINDU 

Chennai: The state govt has doubled the minimum autorickshaw fare from 25 to 50 for the first 1.8km and raised the charge for every additional kilometre from 12 to 25 in Chennai and elsewhere in the state. 

The earlier fares were fixed in 2013. A gazette notification, issued by the home department on Oct 27, provides for a night fare of 1.5 times the regular fare for journeys between 10pm and 5am. Waiting charges have been fixed at 1 a minute. 

For ghat routes, the minimum fare will be 60 — 1.2 times the regular minimum fare — with a charge of 30 for every additional kilometre. The notification, signed by principal secretary A Karthik, directs the State Transport Authority and the regional transport authorities concerned to fix the revised fares for contract carriage autorickshaws. 

The order supersedes the govt’s earlier fare notifications dated Aug 25, 2013, and Oct 16, 2014. TNN

Metro Phase 2 services to start at 6 am

Metro Phase 2 services to start at 6 am 

22.10.2026

Chennai: Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) will advance the services on the Phase-2 Yellow Line to 6 am from Oct 23, following commuter feedback. Services on the 15km Corridor-4 stretch between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani will operate from 6 am to 9 pm in both directions. 

Currently, services begin at 7am. The revised timings are intended to make early-morning travel towards Vadapalani and Poonamallee more convenient. From Monday to Saturday, trains will run every 10 minutes during peak hours — 8am to 11am and 5pm to 8pm. During non-peak hours, services will operate every 15 minutes, between 6am and 8am, 11am and 5pm, and 8pm and 9pm. TNN

One Vadapalani metro entry not ready for inauguration

One Vadapalani metro entry not ready for inauguration

 U.Tejonmayam@timesofindia.com 08.10.2026

Chennai: With the inauguration of the first stretch of Metro Phase II — from Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani— set for Sunday, one of the entry/exit structures at Vadapalani metro station is still under construction. 

Vadapalani will serve as an interchange for passengers switching to the Phase I network. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 14.64km stretch on Oct 11. Phase II stations will have two entry/exit structures, compared with four at Phase I stations. At Vadapalani, CMRL has built an entry point near the police station on Arcot Road. A skywalk linking the Phase I and II stations has been built across the road, but the entry point next to it is still under construction. Commuters wanting to exit on the side opposite the police station may have to walk across the skywalk to the Phase I station and exit onto 100 Feet Road. 

Those entering through the point near the police station may have to climb flights of stairs to reach the concourse. “The entry structure near Vadapalani metro skywalk will not be ready before the inauguration. Passengers will have to use the skywalk to Phase I station to exit, as the AFC gates are in the Phase I station,” a CMRL official said. The Poonamallee Bypass–Vadapalani stretch is being commissioned more than seven months after CMRL received conditional approval from the commissioner of metro railway safety (CMRS) in Feb. CMRL secured final authorisation, with relaxations in train speed and frequency, in May, but the line remained closed to passengers pending an inauguration date. Vadapalani is the only elevated Phase II station with three levels: the first for commercial development, the second for ticketing and the third for platforms. 

The station will give those from Porur and Poonamallee access to Anna Nagar, Shenoy Nagar, Thiruvottiyur and Kilpauk. They can reach transport hubs such as Chennai Centraland airport by changing trains at Vadapalani. “Why can’t CMRL complete the station before opening it? They have had enough time since elections. It is not as if passengers have clean, wide pavements to walk on or can easily cross Arcot Road, which is in bad shape,” said Porur resident S Vikram.