Chennai Metro Rail has finalised 30 routes along the 11-km stretch between Koyambedu and St. Thomas Mount to run feeder services—mini buses and share autos that will help in transporting commuters from interior areas to the nearest Metro Rail stations. The first Metro Rail service in the city is all set to start in about two months from now in the 10-km stretch between Koyambedu and Alandur. But the feeder services may not begin right away, according to sources.
“We have held discussions with the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) officials and given suggestions for routes along this corridor. But it may take a while before this facility comes into place,” an official of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) said.
In addition to mini buses, share autos would ply in three areas —Arumbakkam, CMBT and Ashok Nagar. “We have considered share autos, since these three areas have narrow streets where mini buses cannot ply through,” an official said. Meanwhile, an MTC official said they were asked to provide bus connectivity to seven CMRL stations including Broadway, Alandur, Poonamallee High Road (between Egmore and Central) and Koyambedu.
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“The buses will operate on a number of different routes from each station, allowing commuters to travel to any place within a 10-km radius,” the official said.