Need to bridge the gap: Chennai Metro Rail commuters demand good last-mile connectivity across the network

Even after nearly a decade of running train services, Chennai Metro Rail system hasn’t established a uniform full-fledged last mile connectivity system to help commuters travel from the stations closer to their destination.

At present, nearly three lakh commuters commute across the 54 km phase I and phase I extension network built with 41 stations. In the absence of last mile connectivity system in most stations, commuters have to use private transport or autos. Many travellers either take an auto or their bikes to the nearest station or walk or have someone drop them to the station. For a brief period between 2019 and 2020 alone, Chennai Metro Rail operated share autos and share car services from several stations that benefitted thousands of commuters and also drew more people to taking this mass rapid transit system. But when the pandemic set in, this project was stalled and hasn’t resumed since.

G.V. Aruna, a regular traveller in Chennai Metro Rail system who commutes between Alwarthirunagar and Thoraipakkam narrates her ordeal. “I take my bike from Alwarthirunagar to Ashok Nagar station and get off at Alandur station. Then I take a cab to my office in Thoraipakkam. If there are share autos or cabs at designated times throughout the day, I would save quite a bit on the petrol and the cab expenses. There are thousands of people working in the IT corridor who deboard at Alandur. If there are vans which operate from Alandur along the IT corridor till Sholinganallur during the peak hours, it will be greatly helpful,” she says.

S. Balaji who frequently travels between Airport and Thousand Lights says, while there are MTC minibuses in some of the routes, including the airport station, the services are certainly inadequate, and they run packed during peak hours. “Thousands of people travel from southern areas like Pallavaram, Tambaram and Chromepet to the airport station and then take the train. We don’t know the timings of these minibuses and the frequency isn’t great as well. Since I’m unable to get the minibuses on time, I take my bike these days. It is rather unfortunate that even after all these years, there are no share autos and share cabs for us,” he adds.

According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), they have partnered with Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and 22 minibuses are currently operational in 11 routes across the network. A couple of tempo travellers are operated from Thirumangalam and Alandur connecting a few IT companies in Ambattur and Porur. “We understand the need and we are chalking out a plan to build a last mile connectivity system for the entire phase I network soon. We want to first focus on stations witnessing high footfall like Alandur, Koyambedu, Thirumangalam, Chennai Central and Chennai airport and then will expand it throughout the 54 km network,” an official says.

The easier and more seamless someone’s first and last mile connectivity is, the more likely are commuters to take public transport, Smritika Srinivasan, an urban planner says.

“Right now, that seamlessness doesn’t exist for most people riding the metro because the infrastructure for first and last mile connectivity is absent—specifically infrastructure for public transport, walking, and cycling. By not addressing the first and last mile connectivity around metro stations, people with limited mobility—especially children, elderly and persons with disabilities—are forced to rely on autos or cabs to reach metro stations, which ends up being expensive and, in some cases, costs more than the actual metro ride,” she adds.