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Sunday , 24 March 2024

Making Metro Sustainable

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has been advocating Multi-Modal Integration (MMI) to ensure better mobility to metro users and the travelling public Transport. During the implementation of phase 1, the integration concept was broadly considered, and now it is connecting important bus/rail/air transport hubs (i.e. intercity bus terminal – Koyambedu, Rail Terminal – Chennai Central and Egmore and Air Terminal – Chennai Airport) located in the city. To provide seamless connectivity to Metro rail commuters, CMRL is continuously coordinating with other stakeholders such as Greater Chennai Corporation, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), Highways Department, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority in various activities like provision of feeder bus services, better access roads to stations, development of footpath on station access roads, installation of traffic information signage boards at station vicinity area, relocation of city bus stops, formation of missing links, construction of foot over bridge, etc.

In addition to MTC Bus operations and share auto feeder services, CMRL is operating own feeder services covering 3-5 km radius from each station through the app-based system. The Chennai Metro Rail smart card ticketing system has been extended to feeder services and parking system. To provide seamless connectivity for commuters, CMRL has already initiated a dialogue regarding interoperability with City Bus Operators and the same will be implemented shortly.

The Delhi Metro network has a total network of 377 km in the national capital region (NCR) with a total of 274 metro stations, including the Noida Metro Aqua Line connecting Noida and Greater Noida. Providing the service of last-mile connectivity becomes extremely crucial for integrating effective public transport for commuters. In this direction, Delhi Metro has taken a huge step to improve last-mile connectivity.

The Delhi Metro feeder bus services for last-mile connectivity will be enhanced for passengers in the national capital as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided to introduce more electric feeder buses soon. The tenders have been floated for the procurement, operations and maintenance of as many as 100 electric feeder buses, which will be divided into two clusters. These electric feeder bus services will be completely air-conditioned for the comfort and convenience of passengers. These buses will help in enhancing the last mile connectivity of the Delhi Metro network and will also be non-polluting as they are electric mode buses.

Apart from feeder buses, DMRC has also made available electric scooters or e-scooters at various Delhi Metro stations which commuters can make use of, for travelling to nearby places from the stations. Multi-modal integration space for the parking of e-rickshaws, autos as well as cabs have also been included at several metro stations. Bikesharing app Yulu tied up with Delhi Metro in September this year. The bikesharing firm launched its services from Dilli Haat to JLN Stadium in central Delhi in collaboration with DMRC. The app caters to first and last-mile connectivity for commuters. Yulu plans to deploy 5,000 electric non-motorised vehicles at metro stations by the end of the year.

Maha Metro has been taking efforts to make Metro sustainable by more than one way. In this direction, Maha Metro is integrating sustainable modes of transport with Metro for improving economic and society related benefits. For instance, the authority has launched pedal cycle, e-cycle or e-scooter across the city and it aims to address the first and last mile connectivity issues of commuting problems while opting for Metro Rail as a preferable mode of transport. This means, any metro rail commuter can now ride, from home to the Metro station and from the station to their respective destinations. The pedal cycles will be made available on a pay per ride model. Besides the authority has made provision of bicycle parking and access facilities at all stations, wide footpath access in and around the stations as per relevant guidelines, integrating IPT – auto rickshaw, proposing battery operated feeder at all stations as per MoU signed by PPP operator, and creating of infrastructure in the form of pick up drop off bays for organised movements to cause least possible interference to existing traffic. The authority has also launched e-rickshaw for its commuters in association with Kinetic Green.

Rahul Kamat

 

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