Will more commuters take the Metro if fares are substantially reduced? A study done by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has shown that lower fares do bring in more customers.
Data accessed by The Hindu shows when the CMRL reduced the fares by 40% in May last year, the number of travellers had increased significantly.
A week before the discount was introduced (from May 7, 2017, to May 14, 2017) 1,45,472 people used the system. During the period of discount (from May 15, 2017, to May 21, 2017), 2,43,569 users travelled across network.
This shows an increase of 70% in the number of people who travelled. The following week (from May 22, 2017, to May 28, 2017), when the discount was no longer available, 2,07,231 people travelled, showing a fall of nearly 15%.
The underground stretch from Nehru Park to Thirumangalam was opened on May 15, 2017.
Sources said the addition of this stretch bumped up the patronage, but even if an additional stretch resulted in more people travelling on the Metro, the data clearly showed that when the discount was removed, the number of commuters using the system also reduced.
A year after the discount, the Chennai Metro Rail still does not have a similar number of commuters as it had during the week when fares were discounted.
Lower numbers
At present, an average of 28,000 people use the Metro rail network every day, which is far less than the average of 34,000 people then.
Officials of the Chennai Metro Rail said the discount was given not only to popularise the underground stretch but also to check if more people used the system if the fares were lowered.
Yet, officials baulk at the suggestion that the fares should be brought down.
“It may not be possible to bring down the fares,” said an official.
The fares of Chennai Metro Rail range between ₹10 and ₹60.
