Mobility study seeks answers from Chennai’s residents

Against the backdrop of an exercise to create more integrated transport systems in Chennai, urban planners spell out the way forward

Even if you are not a regular patron of public transport in Chennai, using the facilities related to it only once in a while, weighing in with your views at ongoing survey by Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) would make a difference.

The nodal agency for transport in Chennai is working on a comprehensive mobility plan (CMP) with inputs from citizens for improving the integration of different modes of public transport, to create safe roads and built infrastructure for non-motorised transport.

Through big data, the hours when in the day when traffic movement peaks would be ascertained, and that would help arrive at decisions about priorities to be made in the transportation plans.

CMP is being prepared for 5904 sq.km. of Chennai Metropolitan Area, which includes Chennai, Thirumazhisai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Minjur and Tiruvallur regions. Topics figuring in the survey include last-mile connectivity for reaching the transit point, preference for a single integrated ticketing app for all modes of public transport and top scores to encourage one to use MRTS and Metro.

Citizens’ participation in this survey will play a significant role in shaping the transport system and infrastructure for the next 25 years, reads a note on the CUMTA website. Anyone can take part in it by visiting this link https://cumta.tn.gov.in/cmpsurvey/ or scanning the QR code that has questions in Tamil and English. The survey is also conducted in person, with data collectors going from door to door. CUMTA has appointed a consultant to take up the citizen survey, beginning next week.

Twenty-five Indian cities have their comprehensive mobility plans (CMP). Fourteen of them are in Karnataka, and five others in Punjab.

CMP is largely a guiding document, one that identifies major traffic corridors and outlines strategies for an inclusive urban transport for a city, and its success lies in the degree of commitment in implementing its recommendations.