Operational constraints haunt commuters using MRTS services

Commuters face daily struggles due to MRTS service disruptions, lack of last-mile connectivity, and station relocations in Chennai.

It has become a daily struggle for commuters from Arakkonam, Tiruvallur, and Avadi taking the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) services at the Park railway station. A few years ago, thousands of commuters travelled in comfort from even Thiruttani, Arakkonam, and Thiruninravur to the Information Technology Corridor (Rajiv Gandhi Salai), thanks to the cross- sectoral services on the MRTS stretch.

But the services were stopped for laying the fourth line between Egmore and Beach in August 2023 and the MRTS services were terminated at Chintadripet. The commuters suffered in the absence of last-mile connectivity at peak hours while travelling between the Moore Market Complex suburban station and Chintadripet. Even after the MRTS services resumed, the commuters are at a disadvantage.

The creation of rail infrastructure should be helpful to the commuters, but the MRTS services have been sacrificed for the fourth line, the commuters say. They argue that the fourth line has upset the MRTS services: the peak-hour services operated at a gap of 10 minutes were stopped; the Park railway station, which connected the Chennai Central and Moore Market Complex Stations, was shifted, and the patforms of the MRTS stations were not expanded on the elevated stretch from Chintadripet to Thirumayilai for operating 12-car rakes.

When the MRTS services resumed from Beach to Velachery, the commuters from Avadi and areas further up heaved a sigh of relief. They hoped for the cross-sectoral services to restart at the earliest. But they were shocked to learn that Southern Railway moved the Park station some distance away and closed the subway which connected the Park station (Tambaram-Beach section) with the MRTS station.

They were also upset at the stopping of the cross-sectoral services owing to the operational constraints caused by the absence of two dedicated tracks from Fort to Beach (Southern Railway took over one of the MRTS tracks for non-availability of land).

Earlier, MRTS commuters bound for the Moore Market Complex Station used to get down at the MRTS Park station, take the underpass below the Stanley viaduct connected through a subway, and reach the MMC Station near the Chennai Central Station. The long-distance travellers from Adyar, Thiruvanmiyur, and Velachery took this route towards the Chennai Central.

However, the commuters now climb the footbridge at the MRTS Park station (as the subway has been closed), take a long walk towards the Park station of the Tambaram-Beach section, and reach the MMC Station through the Central Metro square. In fact, Southern Railway has installed a ticket counter for the MRTS Park station commuters at the exit of the Park station of the Tambaram-Beach section. But many commuters are complaining that they do not know where the ticket counter is.