MTC may improve feeder services to Metro stations

According to MTC officials, the CMRL had asked them two years ago to operate around 60 small buses and they agreed to operate 50 buses. Moreover, the MTC is now operating around 15 small buses as feeder service. 

As CMRL has completed the stretch from Central railway station to Airport, they will soon consider operating additional buses and they are expecting a chart from the CMRL for routes. 

“We already operate feeder services to some stations like Nehru park, Koyambedu and Alandur. But, it received poor response among the commuters and revenue slumped sharply,” said an MTC official, seeking anonymity. 

He added that they would hold discussions with CMRL officials soon and decide the number of small buses to ply as feeders. Daniel Robison, programme manager of Chennai City Connect said, “Even though MTC already operated feeder service to the metro stations, it can consider improving the services.” 

He added that as people seem to prefer metro trains to buses, MTC can increase the size of the fleet to improve connectivity to metro stations. When contacted, a senior MTC official said that officials from transport department would soon hold a meeting to discuss this. 

“There is a high possibility that transport officials will increase the feeder services,” the official said.