Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has asked city corporation to shift existing bus shelters closer to the entrances of at least eight metro stations including at the airport and proposed new bus stops in at least five stations including Guindy metro. This is to make first mile or last mile connectivity easier for metro rail commuters.
Metro rail officials said at least eight metro station locations have been proposed for shifting existing bus shelters closer to the entry points of the stations. It includes Thousand Lights, Airport, Pachaiyappa’s College, Government Estate, LIC, Teynampet and Ekattuthangal. At Government Estate metro, CMRL has asked for stopping of MTC buses plying on certain routes closer to the station, and said the existing bus shelter at the airport could be shifted closer to the pedestrian subway linking the suburban services with metro.
Officials said there is also a proposal to set up new bus shelters closer to metro stations at Guindy, Meenambakkam, Nanganallur, Vadapalani and Ekkattuthangal. At Guindy metro, which is already closer to the suburban station from where share auto services ply to Porur, a new shelter has been proposed for mofussil buses.
Both the corridors and the 32 stations along the 45km phase-1 were planned closer to bus shelters and link major transport hubs like CMBT, Central railway station, Egmore railway station and the airport.
At present, bus shelters are a stone’s throw for metro rail commuters at Saidapet, AG-DMS, Central metro and Alandur stations. The buses that stop at these stations ply to far-flung areas in the north and the south.
A senior official from corporation confirmed the CMRL request. “For shifting a bus shelter, a deposit of Rs 60,000-Rs 80,000 has to be made. We have already sent a letter to CMRL on this. Once the money is deposited, the work will start,” he said.