Date:01/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/01/stories/2008010159360400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

The milestones in transport sector

S. Vydhianathan and Krishna Velupillai

MRTS extension, deluxe, AC buses major developments

— PHOTO: M.KARUNAKARAN

NEW ENTRANT: The air-conditioned bus service, with digital display boards introduced in 2007 were well-received. The MTC plans to launch more this year.

CHENNAI: Public transport in Chennai saw significant developments over the last year. The most talked about development of the year was the extension of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Tirumaylai to Velacheri and the introduction of the deluxe and air-conditioned buses onto the streets of Chennai.

A senior official of the Chennai Division of Southern Railway said it had spent Rs. 22 crore for additional passenger facilities in 2007. The official called the MRTS extension a “major achievement” as it had been pending for a while.

Though passenger amenities at the MRTS stations are still not up to many passengers’ satisfaction, the official said that the division would be providing them gradually. The next phase of the MRTS project is extension up to St Thomas Mount. Patronage for the MRTS has significantly increased following its extension to Velachery.

As there has been a 30 per cent increase in suburban traffic, the division has extended services to Tiruttani on the Chennai-Arakkonam side and upto Villupuram on the Tambaram-Chengalpattu section. To meet the increasing rush of commuters, 12-car EMU rakes were introduced. The division has also asked for allotment of more EMU coaches to replace the old ones.

The highlight on the roads was the introduction of the deluxe low-floor bus series early in 2007. A further image boost for the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) came with the introduction of 10 air-conditioned buses in September. According to a senior official at the MTC, a total of 733 new buses were introduced, including the deluxe series and the A/C buses.

At the end of the year, the MTC conducted a large-scale public consultation meeting, at which Minister of Transport. K.N. Nehru said the MTC would be introducing 325 new services by January first week. In the city alone 42 new services have already been introduced and the MTC plans to have 3000 services up and running by March.