Are the MTCs small bus services in Chennai serving their purpose now?
To link metro stations with various localities in Chennai, small bus services were launched by MTC or metropolitan transport corporation in 2021. Did the small bus service in Chennai fulfil its intended function?
The answer is simply NO. The bitter fact is that the small bus service is now having low demand plus high operational costs. This is happening at a time when CMRL or Chennai Metro Rail Limited has been trying to expand.
It must be taken into account that the feeder network service runs as many as 22 buses across 11 routes and are linked to just 9 metro stations out of a total of 44 metro stations in Chennai.
Information gathered is that the small bus services run on the routes S51 (Koyambedu metro to Nolambur Sakthi Nagar), S84 (Alandur metro to Porur junction), S70k (Thirumangalam metro to Korattur water canal), S56 (Thiruvottiyur to Manali) with about 2 services on each route. The bus fares start at Rs 7. Point is that small bus services also make 3 trips per day on route S69 (Airport to Kundrathur).
It is worthy to note that CMRL has asked MTC to add 20 more bus routes due to phase 2 expansion of the metro. It was brought out by some officials from MTC that it was not financially possible to add 20 more buses.
According to Mr. P. Senthil Kumar who is that assistant manager (planning and development) in MTC, for labour and establishment costs MTC spends around Rs 16000 per day per route. He added that the revenue got for MTC has been less.
Point is that passengers of S98 route (Little Mount metro to ITPC Taramani) are unhappy due to the delay of more than 30 minutes. It was later brought out by a student studying in NIFT Taramani that S98 route was of less frequency.
As per Mr. K.P. Subramaniam, former professor of urban engineering in Anna University, the small bus service S98 does not suit the expectations of metro train users. He concluded that the one ticket app linking all modes of transport in Chennai would be beneficial.
