Chennai Metro’s non-weekend day traffic sees an expansion
A month subsequent to continuing services, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has pulled in office-goers on Anna Salai. There is a two-fold increment in the number of travelers going on non-weekend days.
From 12,000 per day, the number has expanded to almost 25,000. However, this establishes only 20% of the pre-COVID-19 traffic when 1.15 lakh travelers used the services every day.
The airport, High Court and Meenambakkam stations get the most extreme number of travelers. Almost 2,000 travelers use the airport station, and the High Court and Meenambakkam stations handle almost 1,800 and 1,600 travelers respectively.
Prior, the stretch from Chennai Central to St. Thomas Mount would have a greater number of travelers than the Washermanpet-airport section. Be that as it may, the Washermanpet-airport stretch carries a greater part of travelers presently, sources said.
As per CMRL authorities, since the majority of the government workers have gotten back to offices, they travel through the stations on Anna Salai. Subsequently, the stretch from Washermanpet to the airport through Anna Salai presently carries more traffic.
“Take for instance, AG-DMS, LIC, Government Estate or Madras High Court, there is a gradual increase in the number of people using these stations. As air traffic has improved, we are seeing a mild increase in the number of users at the airport station. But since the airport’s parking fee is very high, many coming from suburbs like Tambaram or Pallavaram head to the Meenambakkam station, leave the two-wheelers there and travel,” an official said.
With no IT travellers, the stretch between Chennai Central and St. Thomas Mount experiences helpless support, authorities said.
Information show that a maximum of almost 6,300 travelers travel between 9 a.m. also, 11 a.m. furthermore, another 6,300 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. These two hours in the morning and in the evening account for almost 25% every one of the total ridership.
“Since we don’t have many taking early morning or late night trains or buses, there are only 200-220 commuters from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., only 100-150 passengers travel. Only by mid or late next year, we may see the pre-COVID-19 levels of traffic,” a source said.
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