CHENNAI: The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) recorded ridership of 1,01,97,604 passengers in March, marking the third instance of monthly patronage crossing the one-crore mark. Earlier, the one-crore milestone was achieved in July and September 2025.
However, the highest-ever monthly ridership was registered in July, when over 1.03 crore passengers used the Metro network.
According to a CMRL press note, the highest single-day ridership in March was recorded on March 13, with over 3.90 lakh passengers. The surge in ridership over the past two months has been attributed to the reduction in EMU train services between the Beach–Tambaram section due to redevelopment works at Egmore railway station.
CMRL recorded an average daily ridership of 3.28 lakh in March, following an all-time high daily average of 3.44 lakh in February.
In terms of ticketing modes, the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) accounted for the highest usage, with 52.90 lakh passengers opting for it. This was followed by 19.19 lakh passengers using QR ticketing.
M Harish, a regular commuter, said,”With the ridership expected to rise further once Phase II begins, CMRL should strengthen last-mile connectivity from all stations. First- and last-mile travel often costs more than the Metro fare; so, feeder services must be improved.”