CHENNAI: Poor ridership still ails the Chennai metro, which is completing six years today. Experts blame it on high ticket fares and poor first and last mile connectivity. The low ridership has also affected CMRL’s efforts to rent out station spaces to boost non-ticketing revenue especially during the pandemic when the ridership has dropped to 30,000 a day. The network saw an average daily ridership of 1.16 lakh pre-Covid against an initial estimate of 7.75 lakh. The opening of the 9km north Chennai line in February 2021 added another 30%. The first line, from Alandur to Koyambedu, was opened on June 29, 2015. CMRL operates 54km across two corridors.
Former CMRL director R Ramanathan said slashing ticket prices, including the minimum fare, would bring more passengers. A similar reduction in rents would attract companies to set up shop in metro stations. “Metro rail in Chennai has one of the highest fares in the country and people are cost conscious. Unlike Delhi or Bengaluru, Chennai has alternate transport options which are comparatively cheaper. What the metro should do is keep the fare low and increase it gradually as they expand the network,” said Ramanathan, who is now with Nagpur metro where the minimum fare is 5 and 10 for 16km.
The state government in February 2021 slashed ticket fares and capped it at 50, instead of the earlier fare of 70. But the minimum fare is still 10. “To improve patronage, the metro should connect more areas and the 118.9km phase-2 will do that. So, as CMRL adds more areas in the next 10 years, ridership will gradually increase. We saw it in Delhi metro,” Ramanathan added.
Poor connectivity from and to stations also discourages commuters. Many metro stations are not integrated with last mile modes and the walking conditions are also poor. Urban transport experts said while the metro could operate its own feeder services and integrate stations with buses and other existing modes for last mile link, it could also give better access to stations by improving the walking environment around stations. “When we compare the metro with other public transport modes, it stands tall in terms of comfort and safety but the important factors like accessibility and affordability that play a critical role in gaining ridership, need greater attention. Considering the pandemic, it is very important to understand the needs of the citizens through studies that can help the government in creating a very strong city-based public transport system, satisfying the needs of all people,” said Sivasubramaniam Jayaraman, manager- transport system, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP-India).
Former CMRL director R Ramanathan said slashing ticket prices, including the minimum fare, would bring more passengers. A similar reduction in rents would attract companies to set up shop in metro stations. “Metro rail in Chennai has one of the highest fares in the country and people are cost conscious. Unlike Delhi or Bengaluru, Chennai has alternate transport options which are comparatively cheaper. What the metro should do is keep the fare low and increase it gradually as they expand the network,” said Ramanathan, who is now with Nagpur metro where the minimum fare is 5 and 10 for 16km.
The state government in February 2021 slashed ticket fares and capped it at 50, instead of the earlier fare of 70. But the minimum fare is still 10. “To improve patronage, the metro should connect more areas and the 118.9km phase-2 will do that. So, as CMRL adds more areas in the next 10 years, ridership will gradually increase. We saw it in Delhi metro,” Ramanathan added.
Poor connectivity from and to stations also discourages commuters. Many metro stations are not integrated with last mile modes and the walking conditions are also poor. Urban transport experts said while the metro could operate its own feeder services and integrate stations with buses and other existing modes for last mile link, it could also give better access to stations by improving the walking environment around stations. “When we compare the metro with other public transport modes, it stands tall in terms of comfort and safety but the important factors like accessibility and affordability that play a critical role in gaining ridership, need greater attention. Considering the pandemic, it is very important to understand the needs of the citizens through studies that can help the government in creating a very strong city-based public transport system, satisfying the needs of all people,” said Sivasubramaniam Jayaraman, manager- transport system, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP-India).
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