MTC Premium Service Prioritises Speed, Leaves Commuters Concerned
The newly launched premium bus service by Metropolitan Transport Corporation in Chennai is drawing mixed reactions from commuters, with many expressing concerns that the focus on speed has reduced accessibility and convenience.
Introduced on a pilot basis, the premium service operates on key routes such as Siruseri IT Park to CMBT and Tiruvanmiyur to Kilambakkam. With fares ranging between ₹50 and ₹150, the service initially saw a positive response, recording over 800 passengers on its first day.
However, commuters had earlier flagged issues including delays, unnecessary halts, and lack of live tracking, which affected overall travel time.
In response, MTC significantly reduced the number of stops - from 46 to 16 stops on one route and 34 to fewer stops on another - aiming to improve speed and punctuality.
While the move has helped in reducing travel time, it has also triggered fresh complaints. Many passengers say the reduced stops have made the service less accessible, forcing them to walk longer distances or rely on additional transport to reach boarding points.
Commuters also pointed out that several important stops have been skipped, affecting daily office travel. Some suggested that since the service operates on a pre-booking system, buses could adopt a more flexible approach by stopping only at locations where passengers have booked, instead of limiting stops.
Officials from MTC stated that the changes were made based on initial commuter feedback and usage data, and emphasised that the service is still evolving. Further improvements are expected as more feedback is collected.
Despite the concerns, the premium bus initiative is aimed at providing faster, comfortable, and tech-enabled travel, and is likely to be refined to better balance speed with accessibility.
