Missing feeder service hits Metro patronage

Even as the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) promises feeder service in all its 32 stations enabling last-mile connectivity soon, official data suggests that the dearth of it is felt by the public as Metro stations with feeder services register a daily footfall of at least 1000 passengers more than those along non-feeder routes.

With the Metro service seeing an average passenger flow of 85,984 daily during weekdays and 70,481 on the weekends, official data tracking footfall since February 15 this year shows Thirumangalam recording the maximum daily footfall among all stations at an average of 6000. This station operates both share auto and taxi services within a radius of three kilometres. This is followed by Koyambedu and Alandur, registering an average footfall of 4,000 passengers. The CMRL operates both share auto and taxi services from the Koyambedu station.

The Guindy Metro station, which runs share auto services alone, has recorded an average footfall of 3,800 passengers. It is closely followed by Vadapalani and Ekkaduthangal, which registered an average footfall of 3,500 and 3,300 passengers respectively during this period.

With the CMRL rolling out various services-including taxi and share auto services- to bridge last mile connectivity last year, the share auto feeder service is currently being operated from a total of seven stations and cab services at six stations for Rs 5 and Rs 10 respectively.

The taxi service is being operated at select stations like Egmore, AG-DMS, Anna Nagar East, Koyambedu, Alandur and Vadapalani, while share autos service operates in Guindy, Thirumangalam, Alandur, Little Mount, Ekkaduthangal, Koyambedu and St Thomas Mount.

On the other hand, official data shows CMRL stations without these feeder services registering noticeably lower footfall. This is witnessed more in stations like Nanganallur Road and Pachiyappa’s College which clock an average footfall of 800 and 950 respectively during the period.

Newly-inaugurated stations like Washermanpet, Mannadi, Government Estate too clocked comparatively lower daily average footfall of 2,500, 1,500 and 1800 respectively. The LIC station too—providing connectivity to prime areas in the city-- is no exception, with a footfall of only 2,000. The CMRL is yet to introduce feeder services along these routes.

However, in what may be considered an exception, the St Thomas Mount and Little Mount stations-despite both providing share auto feeder service- have recorded a daily average footfall of 2,800 and 1,900 only.

Further, among the non-feeder service routes are the Chennai Central and Airport Metro stations-which have recorded a considerably high footfall at 7,500 and 7000 respectively.

When asked about the observations, V Subramani, project director, Traffic and Transportation Forum, said, “The Metro services is not a huge hit among the masses given the high fare. Also, the feeder routes should be extended to attract a good number of passengers in the future.”

A CMRL official said, “The feeder services will be operated in all the 32 stations from the next month. Depending upon the patronage, the number of cars will be increased.”

According to official data, a total of 93,97,033 passengers have utilised the Metro service between September 2018 and February 2019. Of this, 91,80,467 passengers utilised the service without availing any of its feeder service, while a total of 2,16,566 passengers utilised both the Metro and its feeder services.