Improving The City's Public Transport System

Public transport in Chennai and its suburbs is provided by Metro Transport Corporation buses, and by electric multiple units (EMUs) run by Southern Railway. During the meeting for finalization of annual plan with the Deputy Chairman, Union Planning Commission, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J,Jayalalithaa stated that the government is giving special attention  to Urban Transportation to facilitate intercity travel and to attract private investments. Chief Minister added that in order to translate this vision into reality, the Tamil Nadu Government has activated the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority. 

There are also plans for development of mass transport corridors. The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority is a corporate body with 12 members under the chairmanship of the Minister of Transport. The primary focus will be framing of a transport policy for the city on the lines of National Urban Transport Policy. The key functions of the authority will include monitoring and implementation of various traffic and transportation measures including promoting the system for a public mass transport network. Chennai Comprehensive Transport Study has called for coordination among the Highways Department, Chennai Corporation, Chennai City Traffic Police and Transport Department for improving the city’s public transport system. 

A major recommendation includes development of a bus rapid system and a network of a good rail system..Even as the Metro work is proceeding at a fast pace, there is a lot of expectation among Southern Railway officials regarding the MRTS extension to St. Thomas Mount which might ensure that the full potential of the facility gets exploited. The extension of the five-km stretch from Velachery to St. Thomas Mount costing Rs.495 crore would be completed by the end of 2012. The Metro Rail track laying work would cover corridors I and II including Koyambedu depot.

The total length of the main line is 46 kilometers. The work would be done in stages. In the first stage; the elevated portion from Koyambedu to St. Thomas Mount would be covered. The work of Metro Rail is on in full swing along Anna Nagar Second Avenue Road junction. The Chennai Metro Rail Company and the Southern Railway could consider linking Anna Nagar Railway Station.