Metro Rail Patronage declines shifts of outstation buses to Kilambakkam

09 Feb 2024 CW Team

After the relocation of outstation bus operations from Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) in Koyambedu to Kilambakkam, there has been a decline in metro rail patronage, which had previously shown a consistent increase post-Covid. In January 2024, monthly ridership witnessed a decrease of 6,000 passengers, totalling nearly 85 lakh footfalls, compared to December 2023.

Despite the decline, a CMRL official expressed that they have not observed a significant drop and do not anticipate further decreases in patronage. The shift in bus operations affected passengers within the city and some suburban areas who used to rely on the metro to reach CMBT quickly, avoiding congested 100-ft-wide roads during evening hours.

Many individuals arriving at Chennai airport from domestic and international destinations previously opted for metro trains to reach CMBT for buses heading to southern destinations such as Madurai, Tenkasi, and Tirunelveli. However, with the relocation to Kilambakkam, commuters find the journey more time-consuming and exhausting, especially without the prospect of a metro rail extension to Kilambakkam.

CMBT, once a crucial multimodal hub for metro rail, witnessed a change in footfalls on the Central Line in the evenings. The shift of outstation bus operations to Kilambakkam on January 1 affected approximately 1,000 government buses and 600 Omni buses during weekdays, reaching 1,000 during weekends.

Despite the recent dip, the metro rail currently averages 2.73 lakh daily passengers, doubling the pre-Covid-19 average of 1.16 lakh, reflecting its continued significance in the transportation network.

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

VECV Sales Rise 7.8 Per Cent In May 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles recorded sales of 7,978 units in May 2026, compared to 7,401 units in May 2025, registering growth of 7.8 per cent. This included 7,789 units from the Eicher brand and 189 units from the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,789 units during the month, up 7.3 per cent from 7,258 units a year earlier. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 9.1 per cent to 7,375 units from 6,758 units in May 2025.Exports declined 17.2 per cent to 414 units from 500 units in the corresponding month last year. Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses recor..

Table Space Strengthens DESYN Leadership Team

Table Space has announced strategic leadership appointments within DESYN, its integrated Design and Build business, as it looks to strengthen operations across key enterprise and GCC markets in India. DESYN was launched as a strategic extension of Table Space’s workspace solutions portfolio to meet rising demand for agile, high-quality and rapidly deployable enterprise workspaces.Shruti Ookabhoy has joined DESYN as Executive Director and will lead the Design vertical, focusing on design capability, operational excellence and team development across markets. She brings over 22 years of experi..

Concord Associate Bags Rs 2.79 Bn Kavach Order

Concord Control Systems said its associate company, Progota India, has received a Rs 2.79 bn domestic order from Indian Railways for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of on-board Kavach 4.0 loco equipment.The order is scheduled for execution within 12 months and strengthens Concord’s role in India’s railway safety and signalling ecosystem. Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system, designed to improve operational safety by helping prevent signal passing at danger and reducing collision risks.Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Syst..