CUMTA Act for city notified

The act that was notified in a Government Order from housing and urban development secretary S Krishnan dated January 16, appoints the Chief Urban Planner (Transport) of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to function as the member-secretary of Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA).

As per the Government Order, the CUMTA would have a person, who has expertise in managing urban traffic and transport, nominated by the state government. “The authority can designate three persons as members to represent the operators of new modes of transit, experts in the area of urban transportation and for representing public transportation, passengers, cyclists, pedestrians and similar groups for a three-year tenure,” the order stated.

It may be noted that the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority Act was passed in 2010 and CUMTA rules were waiting for the formal notification.

Sources in the Housing and Urban Development Department said that the CUMTA would govern and monitor various transport agencies in Chennai such as MTC, MRTS, Metrorail, sub-urban train and others. “CUMTA will help individual agencies and the government in framing transport strategy in the Chennai Metropolitan Area. Once the CUMTA starts functioning, all modes of transport will be integrated and commuters may get universal travel card enabling them to easily switch between modes,” sources said.