Four years on, Chennai Metro is yet to put in place feeder services — that offer last mile connectivity — at all stations. This has turned out to be one of the major reasons for the recent dip in ridership — from 90,000 people to 85,000 a day, sources said.
At first, MTC-run mini buses were operated at some stations, and till now only Koyambedu, CMBT, Vadapalani, Ashok Nagar and Alandur stations have this service. Last August, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) began share auto and share car services at select stations at a fixed fare of ₹5 and ₹10. While the share auto service is available at Thirumangalam, Koyambedu, Guindy, Alandur, Little Mount, Ekkatuthangal and St. Thomas Mount, share car services are offered at Egmore, AG-DMS, Anna Nagar, Koyambedu, Alandur and Vadapalani.
Of the 32 stations that are up and running, only 13 have the feeder services.
The newly-opened stretch from Washermanpet to AG-DMS doesn’t have mini bus, share auto or share car services. Sources attribute this to be one of the primary reasons for lack of good ridership in the stretch.
There is a footfall of 1,500 on an average a day in Mannady, in north Chennai. Government Estate and LIC stations see a footfall of about 1,800 to 2,000. While around 2,500 people take the Washermanpet Metro station, about 3,000 take the Metro from other stations like Thousand Lights, AG-DMS and High Court.
According to officials, CMRL has awarded the contract to a firm which will operate share cars at all 32 stations by next month. “Depending on the footfall, there will be about two to four or six cars at the stations. We hope to start these services next month,” an official said. They said that they had identified the routes for the remaining stations and informed MTC as well, to start mini buses services.
