CHENNAI: An average 9,000 people travelled in metro trains on the new line from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar in the past three days but many passengers said they will not use the service for daily commute if Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) does not reduce ticket prices.
Commuters, who travelled after CMRL began charging for rides on February 15, said they spend double or at times triple the amount on a metro ticket compared to MTC bus or share auto.
“I started commuting in metro since Monday to my workplace from Washermenpet to Thiruvottiyur. I spend an average Rs 10 on a one-way bus ticket but the metro costs Rs 40. If they do not reduce the fares, I may not use it regularly as I cannot afford,” said M Rajan, a resident of Washermenpet.
Passengers said long-distance commutes of more than 15km work out cheaper for a person travelling alone but they have to shell out double for a shorter distance. “It takes Rs 20 from Washermenpet to Thiruvottiyur in a share auto. But it is double in metro,” said Khader Hussein, a marketing executive from Korukkupet. “Even shorter distances like from Wimco Nagar to Kaladipet which is around 2km costs Rs 20 which I cannot afford daily,” he said.
Reducing ticket prices has been a long-pending demand since the first line from Koyambedu to Alandur opened in June 2015 and has often been cited by experts as a reason for metro rail’s poor patronage. “There are seven lakh daily wage workers in North Chennai who cannot afford metro services due to high ticket fares. CMRL has to bring it down,” said Ernest Paul, coordinator North Chennai People’s Rights Federation, which campaigned for the metro line in north Chennai.
Recently, city-based NGO Traffic and Transportation Forum, wrote to the Prime Minister requesting him to intervene and reduce metro rail fares. “We demand CMRL to reduce fares with a price starting from Rs 10 and capped at Rs 35. Unless this is done, metro rail will remain a distant dream to the poor and middle class,” said V Rama Rao, director of the NGO.