Chennai Metro users can now book a seat in advance on the vehicle providing them their last-mile connectivity and see its location on a real time basis using the Chennai Metro app.
Chennai Metro added last-mile connectivity to six more stations including LIC, Thousand Lights, Government Estate, Chennai Central, Nandanam and AG-DMS with Mega Cabs running share car services on select routes covering a 6-8 km in and around these stations. Commuters will have to pay only a fixed fare of ₹10 for this service.
Pankaj Kumar Bansal, managing director of Chennai Metro Rail Limited, said: “Before leaving his residence, a commuter can check where the vehicle is and then leave accordingly, so that he doesn’t have to waste time waiting for it. Right now, a commuter can pay using smart card and soon, he can pay using debit or credit card.” A commuter can also see the pick-up points in and around each station and his location. Soon, they intend to upgrade it in a way where, the app will show the exact distance and time taken to reach the pick up point, like the google map.
CMRL has procured 12 vehicles for now and there will be two each in six stations; in due course they will get 64 vehicles depending on demand, an official said.
But the flipside is, sources say there may be two vehicles during peak hours and one during non-peak hours; if that is the case, then it may be quite tough for passengers as there are about one lakh people travelling on a daily basis.
Now, Chennai Metro Rail has joined hands with Energy Efficient Services Limited (EESL), a government of India enterprise, who has installed charging points in six stations for electric vehicles; soon this will be extended to 26 stations. There will be a fast charging point for a car (in which a car will be fully charged in 40 minutes and can run for 100 km, even with airconditioning on) and a slow charging point for two wheelers (it may take about two hours to charge it). Savitri Singh of EESL said, if a petrol vehicle will cost a commuter ₹7-8, a electric car will cost her only ₹1-2. But there is no clarity on how much a commuter will spend for charging his vehicle here; sources said, it is likely that it may cost them ₹10 for a full charge.
