With the eight-year-old Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) Act coming into force at last on Wednesday, the State government has notified the relevant rules to make the integrated functioning of a multi-modal transportation system in the city a reality.
This follows an announcement made by Governor Banwarilal Purohit on CUMTA in his address to the Assembly early this month.
Initially, the Chennai Metro and Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) will work together with regard to a unified ticketing system. The government and the Southern Railway have held discussions on Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. taking over operations of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), which runs train services between Beach and Velachery. Eventually, CUMTA would cover EMU suburban services too, according to sources in the State government.
MRTS, CMRL merger
Making it clear that there is “no issue” concerning employees of the MRTS, who will be with the Railways in the event of a merger, the sources add that they are awaiting a final word from the Railway authorities on the question of merger.
Headed by the Transport Minister, the 17-member Authority will have the Chief Secretary and Vice-Chairman of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) as vice-chairpersons, apart from Secretaries in charge of the departments of Finance, Housing and Urban Development, Transport, Highways and Municipal Administration and Water Supply as members. It will include an eminent traffic and transportation expert nominated by the government.
The Chief Urban Planner (Transport) of the CMDA will be the member-secretary of the Authority as well as the Chief Executive Officer of the new body, according to an order issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department on Wednesday notifying the rules for CUMTA.
There will be three co-opted members for the Authority to represent operators of new modes of transit, experts in urban transportation and forums representing passengers, public transportation, cyclists, pedestrians and similar groups. The principal function of CUMTA will be to oversee, coordinate, promote and monitor the implementation of various traffic and transportation measures including promoting the cause of public mass passenger transport systems.
