The Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) corridor has been in existence for over a decade. The 25-km line, which was originally supposed to be Chennai's ‘Metro', continues to be plagued with problems. It transports less than 20 per cent of the projected passenger capacity.
Though the elevated rail line, which was a unique experiment, has been a failure on many counts, it offers important lessons to upcoming public transport systems such as Metro Rail and Monorail, say experts.
Even Chennai Metro Rail Limited's (CMRL) initiation of a multi-modal integration study last week is borne out of the city's experience with MRTS and its lack of connectivity.
K. Rajaraman, Managing Director, CMRL, said: “Physical infrastructure such as ramps that connect upcoming Metro stations with nearby bus stops, skywalks heading into suburban railway stations and pedestrian walkways would be in place by the end of 2015. The study will also have a strong focus on pedestrian facilities.”
But similar promises were made back in 2007 when the MRTS extension from Mylapore to Velachery became operational. Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses were supposed to come inside MRTS stations and pick up passengers. The inability to keep this promise has had a telling impact on passenger patronage.
Though there are 21 MRTS stations, only three account for 40 per cent of the total passenger boarding and alighting. These three stations – Beach, Mylapore and Velachery – have a bus stop very close by.
“These are significant transfer points. It is true that inter-modal transfer is not happening in any other station,” said S.Anantharaman, Chennai Divisional Railway Manager, Southern Railway. “We do raise such issues during coordination meetings, but MTC is grappling with its own problems. The hope is once the metro becomes operational, such transfers will become significant and there will be greater incentive for coordination,” he added.
A senior CMDA official said that other measures that were proposed to be introduced on the MRTS corridor but never took off are shuttle services in the vicinity of the station, privatising maintenance operation as well as the functioning of lifts and escalators, and free passes for school students. The metro would be in a unique position to try such experiments, he said.
Other market building measures such as leasing space in stations for public events and branding exercises that would result in social acceptance for a new public transport mode are also required, he added. For example, the Ahmedabad BRT was operated as a free service for the first three months.
K.P. Subramanian, former professor, Urban Engineering Department, Anna University, said that one disadvantage the metro would face is it will be operating on already over-saturated roads.
“Buses will operate parallel to the metro corridor. There was better scope for coordination and integration with MRTS where buses could have operated on routes perpendicular to the rail line.”
He added that the success of Metro Rail's efforts to achieve multi-modal integration will be a test case for the relevance of the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA). Though the authority was set up last year, not even a single meeting has been conducted till now.
“The fact that CUMTA's board is packed with government officials, without any representation from NGOs and academics, is a major drawback. Only if the authority can wield enough influence among various public transit operators will the people's interest prevail over the profit or loss of an individual organisation.”
Keywords: MRTS, public transport systems, Metro Rail, Mono Rail, Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority
Most of the MRTS stations are negleted. The ground floor of most of the MRTS stations are filthy and are freely used by the anti social elements. The rlys. can better lease those vacant place to commercial establishments just like Chindathiripet station. The triplicane and light house station exits tobe altered in such a way that the rail platforms should connect to the main roads by road over bridge instead of passing through narrow slums. By doing so many passengers will utilise MRTS facility as it is a busy place. Will the authorities respond to it immediatly.
While MTC still sleeps in providing feeder service, The railways could take the initiative to make the stations park n ride friendly. Safe illumination of the stations with all basic amenities and a discounted rate for long term parking and passes will enable people to use their own two wheelers and four wheelers as feeder service- say drop the vehicle at velachery and take the MRTS to Beach.
Nothing other than seamless and fast transportation will weed out traffic from the roads. This is impossible to achieve by long route bus system or even with the conceived dedicated bus lanes.However with dedicated tracks and no competitive traffic on them, this can be a selling point for the railways as well as propose mono rails and metro.
It is surprising the public in Chennai is unwilling to use the MRTS from Mylapore.The Bus at QMC can go into the station and take the route back to the Beach.The state govt has given space and we have paid 30 to 50% cost for the project.The revenue is earned by Railways.The state govt is not interested in providing help to the citizen to save money by introducing the shared revenue by Railways and MTC. Depending on the distance travelled they can have the revenue sharing and work the modalities at a later date.
The poor patronage to the MRTS stems out from the poor hygenic conditions prevailing in the stations.The toilets are locked and the escalators do not function.It must be admitted that usage of MRTS by commuters are increasing despite these deficincies.But poor BUS connectivity to the nearest bus terminus,(except Mylapore and a few stations)deters many commuters from using the MRTS.The Railways should embark upon a cleansing campaign and at least make it appealing to the public to use the stations. Provision of covered parking lots for two wheelers in the stations would attract more users.
Sir, Adambakkam and west Velachery have more than one lakh population. If Puzhudivakkam is added, it will be more. Do these people have bus access to Velachery MRTS? Now that Inner Ring Road is ready, why can not MTC connect Brindavan Main Road in West Velachery to Velachery MRTS by bus? MTC will run buses only if they get enough passangers to travel in foot-boards. If this is the case, each one will be driven to use private transport. To go to Velachery MRTS from Brindavan Nagar by auto, one should shell out more than Rs.60/=. If this is the cost of connectivity to rail stations, who will go to MRTS? Will this be the case in respect of Metro, Mano and BRTS?
MRTS stations in Chennai are maintained really bad shape and pose severe security risk to the passengers.
I am regular user of MRTS for a decade, and now only the stations are provided with facilities for the passengers especially to the senior citizens. The lifts in most stations are not functioning and escalators functions in peak hours. Thirumailyai station's lift never in working condition and many commutors are put into lot of difficulties. Another point a bus stop near the station will defintely improve and increase in passengers. MRTS is very good for people if it improves the infra structure passengers facilities.
The gap between current effectiveness & perceived importance based upon Study survey results. We need officials who not just plan for current traffic requirements but also for 25 years ahead. Having the same officers who's plan has not worked for past decade is a good idea to waste Tax payers money.
These problems of Negelect, indifference to operating the MRTS in an efficient and effective manner had all been highlighted in Newspapers earlier also. It is a fact that except for Beach, Mylai and Velacheri stations, all other metro rly stations are situated far away from Bus Terminals. Then, why the state govt.could not think of allowing private Bus operators to ply the short distance ? But, one major reality to note is in the last 10 to 12 years, people have been using their own private vehicles, like cars, Motor bykes in larger numbers and thus reduction of metro rail needs.
All the MRTS stations in Chennai are put to great disuse. Lifts and Escalators though available are non-operational which is very disheartening. People are put off as they have to walk long distances and climb many steps to reach the station. Moreover huge spaces in the heart of the city are lying idle. This pains us as huge amounts have been spent in construction of these stations with many facilities which are lying in repair. Revenue can be generated by leasing out the spaces in these stations to private stalls.
All MRTS stations must have provision for parking two/four wheelers as majority of the commutrers are residing some 4 to 5 Kms distance from each station.Even in Delhi much Work have yet to be done in proving multi level car parking to enable the commuters to efficiently use the MRTS.several European countries have successfully provided multilevel parking at stations and airports.This will definitely save Petrol,stress and strain on driving and feel at driving home comfortably once the passenger reach the desired station.Transport Buses and autos shall be available plenty at each important busy stations for the success of the MRTS and the Railways will get the required revenue not only to operate the existing strength but also to improve upon.
It is heartening to see the status of our MRTS functionality... Just as it is mentioned in the article, there's poor connectivity and its really confusing for passengers if one is thinking of getting a Connecting Bus services to any other parts of the city... This clearly shows very poor planning and a lethargic attitude of the officials. It is time that these officials who care nothing about public transport be thrown out of their positions. They don't really care because they don't use the public transport. They all have their own private mode of transport....so who cares...??? It should be implemented that the Government officials should use the public transport at all times...that's the only way to make them realize the ground reality that each and every passenger undergoes...
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