A passenger who wants to reach the city from the Chennai airport has few comfortable travel options.
After a long construction phase, the expansion project of the Chennai airport, the third busiest in the country, is close to completion. The terminal buildings with their bright lights are a definite improvement on the drab old structures. What remains to be seen, however, is whether the new facilities truly match international airports in efficiency terms. One feature that Chennai airport lacks is good connectivity choices to the city. If you are a passenger flying into this famous aviation destination from Frankfurt, London, Brussels, Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or even Bangalore, the first rude surprise is the lack of friendly connection options. Remember, nearly 10,500 international and 18,000 domestic passengers pass through the airport daily.
A passenger or visitor who wants to reach the city has no comfortable travel options other than to use personal transport or hire a poorly maintained taxi. It has been a downhill story for a long time now. Three years ago, the MTC, the monopoly city bus operator announced that it was withdrawing all its newly introduced air-conditioned buses operating to the city along two routes from the airport.
Passengers, the transport corporation argued, preferred to use their own vehicles and the bus service was not able to attract even local travellers. Consequently, only an obscure mini-bus service is available now. The reasons for lack of patronage are self-evident, but then, MTC rarely assesses transport demand through a public consultative process.
So will an expanded Chennai airport have better connectivity? What AAI, the airport management body, is saying unofficially is that it has asked for a feasibility report from MTC to divert some city buses via the airport in the southern direction.
Obviously, this cannot be part of a viable solution, even if it has some temporary benefits. Why does an airport bus service, which is the hallmark of many international cities, fail in Chennai? There are some obvious reasons. There is no demarcated area for airport buses outside the terminals, as in Bangalore, for example. The services do not operate at a sensible frequency, touching important city locations. MTC buses are not designed for airport service - with suitable luggage racks. Moreover, inside the city, there are no information boards at bus stops or termini to indicate that airport buses are available. Important hotels are not covered. Fares are unattractive.
Yet, things were more predictable several years ago when far fewer flights operated to Chennai airport. Buses operated by MTC would touch important hotels. Normal city buses were later in service here, until special interests entered the fray to create a bottleneck.
It is time to improve services to Chennai airport for it to be on the travel map with good credentials.
The AAI needs a comprehensive travel link plan, not piecemeal solutions. If the Metro rail link delivers on its promise, it will represent a quantum leap (the existing option is the crowded Tambaram-Beach suburban train system, which is a few hundred metres away at Tirusulam). To augment the Metro, Chennai needs a well-planned airport bus service.
(An edit was made to this article for clarity)
Keywords: MTC, AAI, Chennai airport, public transport, Airport Bus Service Chennai, Chennai Metro to airport
The Airport location has outlived its usefulness, may be ?
With so much of built-up properties near, what can the Airport authorities too, when the Airport is bang in the middle of a major arterial road ? How can they have new tracks coming in and out of the Airport ? Not feasible at all..
They should have thougt of building a brand new airport, with all connections, facilities a few decades back and worked on that.
Like the metro digging going on now in Madras, they are about 50years too late in their vision and development/execution of these infrastructure plans...
Politics, politics, politicians.....
There is a pre-paid taxi service in the domestic terminal, which was very convenient. I was coming in from New Delhi, and on landing, went to the counter, was assigned a taxi, and I was in Annanagar, my destination within an hour. If one is not there in the international terminal, perhaps that is a solution. However, as someone pointed out, the airport cannot be responsible for shuttling all the passengers to their destinations. Even when I land in San Francsico, I have to arrange my own taxi, or arrange with a friend/relative to pick me up.
Though this is not the main topic , but restrooms! First of all people need to plan big, especially for a big airport like Chennai. Bangalore airport restrooms are great, when they can do it, why cannnot Chennai? As I said, first it has to have a big capacity, having many stalls, to distribute the load. I am sure within the next few years, these things will come about, think about the airport 10 years ago, it has come a long way.
Also instead of concentrating on connecting airports via MTC, we should rather push for BRTS for the city atleast in the major roads like Mount Road, GST, Poonamallee High Road, CMBT to Kathipara etc. It is a pity that a person travelling in a saturated overcrowded bus has to wait for strenuous periods in the traffic jams, while the main cloggers - bikes and cars get a free ride. What I am saying is that road space occupied by a bus per traveller(more than 40 persons in any bus) is very very small compared to say that of a person in a bike or car. We should be thinking in terms of CoE schemes like in Singapore to solve the congestion problem.
@ Those who are comparing Chennai Airport with Hyderabad or Bangalore
It is not Hyderabad Airport, it is GMR Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport, note the GMR, thats right, it is a public-private partnership. So is Bangalore Airport, it is also a PPP consisting of L&T (now stakes has been taken over by GVK), Seimens and Unique Zurich alongwith State Govt. and AAI. So you are in effect comparing apples to oranges. Until Chennai airport is privatised, you would not see any improvements in the services as such, because the Govt. does not have any incentive to make it better. Not to forget, the capacity of Chennai airport was saturated long back, and whatever extensions they are doing at Meenambakkam would not be enough when they are eventually commissioned. That is why a new greenfield airport has been proposed in Sriperumbundur, very much like Hyderabad or Bangalore. Also Chennai Airport is very old unlike their counterparts which was opened very recently.
Why should AAI or MTC operate the bus connectivity service? The international/Domestic carriers should operate the connectivity services for their passengers. As a passenger we pay heavy Airport Tax. Let the AAI provide concession to the Flight carriers, so as to enable them to operate the bus services. Further any new carriers that use the Chennai Airport has to set up the passenger connectivity service to start its operations. This would practically reduce the vehicle traffic to the airport and the people would be better served. I don't think there could be any practical difficulties to implement this. Also with the metro coming up, People could start using the public services to reach the Airport comfortably.
It is really unfortunate that a metropolitan city like Chennai has a really sub standard airport in Anna international. Connectivity surely is one of the major issues. But the airport itself does not have much to boast of. Unclean washrooms, inadequate waiting spaces (considering it is the third busiest airport in India), very few shops and eateries. I really hope the modernisation of the airport tackles these issues instead of just increasing the passenger capacity and number of gates.
If it has worked in Bangalore,Hyderabad in India and in developed countries like Finland it should work here as well.Little bit of tweaking is needed like improving of frequency, catering to multiple routes etc.. need to know the bus stops for this airport bus..bus stops need to have timing mentioned.This will help people board the bus from the nearest stop and taxi/auto is used for only for this short distance and not till airport.Frequency should be 15-20 mins.There are people here who feel it is below their dignity to use public transport.New Yorkers(even Senior managers) are using public transport.Parking space is at a premium but it comes at free or a paltry sum here.So people are travelling in private vehicles.Hourly parking charges is the need of the day and Govt is also going for it.Four cars equals around 60 people in a bus.Creating awareness is key. Public transport also needs to improve-can't move people to bus/train without providing service & connections.Travelator to Tirusalam stn also can help a lot.
Last August was my very first Madras Airport experience and I was
appalled. Perhaps it is my fault that I expected one of the oldest
airports in the country to be among the best. We know what the faults
are and pointing fingers isn't a constructive exercise, the question
is what can we do to change this pitiful state of affairs? To begin
with how about simply flushing the toilets after use or just using the
trash cans appropriately-surely we don't need the netas or babus to
help us with that...and maybe work up to a collective demand for
change by us tax payers?
While comparing the bus facilities available at Bangalore and Hyderabad Airports, Madras facilities are pathetic.Even in interior facilities and cleanliness both airports are miles ahead of Madras airport.We have to reconcile to the fact that we are not blessed with efficient officials and progressive thinking politicians..!
A correction to Raj's comment. "Thanks to corrupt politicians and IAS officers".
There are still a few honest politicians and IAS officers. Let's not band them with the corrupt ones.
As always, there is this general assumption that anybody who travels by air can afford expensive ground transportation options. As long as this mentality doesn't change, we will continue to treat these problems with scant interest to change anything.
It will take 2000 years to bring chennai airport to the level of international airports
like Heathrow(london) or Changi (singapore)airport. Thanks to all politicians and IAS
officers.
I disagree with Mr.Srivatsan's comment. The well designed "vayu vajra service" is a boon to many who pass through Bangalore airport! It will be more efficient and likely to be very popular given the proximity to airport in Chennai when implemented. Bus service is far cheaper for 1 or 2 passengers and can be a comfortable option than those black & yello taxis. They should not try to divert the city buses as its likely to be a failure with chassis height very high. Volvo services with full low floor should be tried. Bangalore's volvo services are inconvenient in the 50% of rear of the bus with very high floor level and aircon blowing right on the head. Let airport authorities in Chennai give a serious thought to integrating bus bays for different directions in Chennai. Let the Indian travelers also learn to travel light. It is always a shameful sight airport to see travelers unpacking and struggling with increasingly conscious airlines..
A possible option could be an airport express like the heathrow or gatwick express in London beginning at tirusulam. An underground way to reach the stationery directly from the airport may also prove useful. As a frequent user of the airport, I noticed a drop in service in call taxis as soon as JJ came to power. May be this coincided with troubles for the DMK run fast track. Anyone who comes after midnight simply has to wait an hour or so for a call taxi.
We are talking about 'friendly' airport in Chennai..? A wheelchair passenger has to first walk into the terminal, get to the check in counter with baggage and only then will be provided with a wheelchair!Well yes outside the entrance to the International departures there is a telephone one can use to call for a wheel chair..This phone does not work!! Yes I have tried it.. The washrooms are beyond filthy and stinking..it's the stink that greets you when you enter the area near the boarding gates..this is also true of the domestic terminal when you land and have to pass an area outside the washroom which is nauseating to say the least, in order to get to the baggage carousel.. These are basic amenities that need to be provided ..and ASAP..trust the Authorities know these issues among others and have made suitable provisions.
Either Mr. Prakash has never travelled by plane to other places or just indulging in wishful thinking. All the airports give transport facility only to nearby hubs, from where they have to arrange their transport to their doorstep. I don't see how an airport operator will arrange transport to all the 28000 passengers who pass through the facility. Also, people in Chennai think that once you land in airport, it is beneath your dignity to board bus or train. Try giving chopper service and you will soon find a long enough queue. You don't even have to give information about the service!!!
At least 4 specially designed a/c buses like Bangalore can be introduced to cover important hotels located on Mount Road/Nungambakkam High road to start with. Railways can also think of designing and attaching one a/c coach to existing suburban trains (Beach-Tambaram) with sufficient space to keep baggage. Also Railways can reduce the I class suburban fare (presently a single jouney from Palavanthangal-Chennai Park is costing Rs.80 as against Rs.6 in second class). This will help airport passengers as well as others especially senior citizens/ladies who cannot travel by second class because of overcrowding especially during peak hours.
Even if all the suggestions provided by the author is considered, a bus service in a city like Chennai will be an unattractive option. Assume there is Airport bus service from the terminals to all the regions in the city. Once the passengers get off the bus, taking into account the fact that Indians travel heavy, how will they carry their luggage (at least 3 or 4 pieces) from the bus stops to their door? Does Chennai have any corner in the city that has pedestrian-friendly/disabled-friendly pavement network? Each pavement is at least 1.5 ft above the road level and how useful are these? The only solution is for AAI to fund the purchase of at least 100 Shuttles attached with Baggage carriers that can accommodate at least 10 people that will charge a nominal fee and drop the passengers their door step. Instead of hiring 1 government taxi for Average Rs.400/- or private cab for pre-pay rate of Rs.500-800/-, these shuttles can operate on shared basis serving a given locality.
Please Email the Editor