On an average, between 1.18 lakh and 1.21 lakh people take the Chennai Metro on a daily basis.
Yet, if the commuters feel that the trains are never full and it is a rather nice and quiet ride, then they are probably not travelling during peak hours.
Data gathered by The Hindu shows the network has the maximum number of passengers, with trains running full, during peak hours in the morning — between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. — with an average of 22,204 passengers, and in the evening — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. — with 37,601 passengers. It has the least number of travellers between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m., with a mere 103 commuters availing of services.
Thirumangalam is the busiest station, with an average of 10,056 passengers travelling every day, followed by Chennai Central and Chennai Airport stations, with 9,702 and 7,358 passengers, respectively.
Office-goers predominant
According to officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), most travellers use the network to get to their workplace, followed by those leaving town by train or flight.
“Thirumangalam remains the most used station, because a large number of people come from areas like Padi, Mogappair, Retteri and even Ambattur, and travel to their workplaces. Otherwise, they have to pay a huge amount of money for an auto or a cab,” an official said.
At Thirumangalam, an average of 2,784 people take the Metro from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 2,034 people use the service between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
At Chennai Central, apart from those taking outstation trains, there are quite a few who travel through the station to get to Fort St. George for work. “We have recently started a feeder service (share car) that takes passengers from the station to the Secretariat,” another official said.
Feeder services
At Chennai Airport, a maximum of 1,039 passengers travel from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Initially, the station was used by people taking flights, but soon after feeder services were introduced, people from Pallavaram, Chromepet, and hundreds of other passengers began to throng the station, he added.
It is to be noted that sometime back, the Chennai Metro had extended its early morning and late night services.
Data shows that while an average of 1,051 passengers take the early morning services, 2,108 use it late at night.
