The MTC procured around 2000 buses in 2018 but none of them were low floor buses that were disabled-friendly. Accessibility issues also persist in the Metro.
How can travel within the city be made easier and more sustainable? As public transport begins to open up in the post-lockdown era, we mull over a few critical points.
Ease of mobility and efficient transportation must be key features in any smart city. As the city sets its own goals under the Chennai Smart City programme, the author identifies the crucial areas that need attention for realisation of those.
Ever been on the Metro in the wee hours of the morning or late in the evening? With missing security checks at the entrance and hardly any personnel in view, it becomes clear that the Chennai Metro needs to step up arrangements on the security front.
The MTC’s small bus service could have provided the much needed last mile connectivity for rail, metro and bus interchanges and yet it proved to be a failure, with the authorities withdrawing them from quite a few routes. Why?
Chennai is expected to grow at 8.1% between now and 2035. Mobility will play a vital role in how the city shapes up and public transit will be central to that. But Chennai Metro needs to do a lot more to rise to the occasion.
Chennai Metro looks all set to offer a faster, modern commute alternative across its full length of 45.1 km in Phase I. But it can never achieve its full potential until certain grave policy mistakes are corrected.
Several conflicts have arisen as land acquisition for Phase 2 of Chennai Metro gets underway. Residences, shops and even a school that could become ‘collateral damage’ in the exercise have raised their voices against the move. Will their interests be considered?
