Chennai Metro’s daily patronage sees tenfold increase

Over 3.8 crore people have used the service since June 2015

In the last four years, over 3.8 crore passengers have taken the Chennai Metro.

The first service began on June 29, 2015, on the 8-km stretch between Koyambedu and Alandur. At first, only about 8,000-9,000 people travelled. Four years on and with the commissioning of the 45-km Phase I, the system has close to 95,000 people using it daily.

Key issues

Though they have brought in mini buses, share autos and share cars at many stations, such services would be extended to all 32 stations in the coming months. “Once that happens, we expect the average number of people taking the Metro to cross one lakh a day easily,” an official said.

Though the daily ridership did touch one lakh in April, the average number of people travelling in the Metro still continues to be nearly 95,000 a day.

From the time the system was implemented, the ridership has grown gradually. It started with 26 lakh in the period between June and December 2015, and has recorded one crore passengers between January to May 2019.