The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has criticised Chennai Metro for running feeder services, including share autos and cars, sources said. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has received a letter from MTC which said the Corporation was losing revenue because of feeder services operating around the stations, sources added.
For many months now, CMRL has been operating feeder services at a flat fare of ₹5 and ₹10 at Koyambedu, Ekkatuthangal, Ashok Nagar, Egmore, AG-DMS, Anna Nagar East, Alandur, Vadapalani and Little Mount stations.
A few weeks ago, in addition to the existing feeder services, CMRL entered into a contract with Mega Cabs to operate share cars at LIC, Government Estate, Thousand Lights and Chennai Central stations.
The letter stated that vehicles like autorickshaws, share autos and maxi cabs are contract carriages meant for private transit. Using these vehicles as a mode of public transit (like buses) to promote last-mile connectivity is against conditions stipulated as per provisions under Section 172 of the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. Owing to this, MTC has been losing revenue, the letter added.
‘Take action’
MTC has already been plying buses and small buses in many areas around the city’s Metro stations. The letter further states that MTC will increase the number of buses to Metro stations as ridership goes up. CMRL must take action to stop operating autorickshaws and share autos as public transit, it added.
According to officials of CMRL, they have been operating these services only for the benefit of passengers. Some sources pointed out that if MTC had operated small buses to all stations earlier, there wouldn’t have been any need to have feeder services.
