Chaos grips Chennai metro as airport station goes offline for hours
CHENNAI: Metro services at the airport station came to a grinding halt for hours on Wednesday evening after a technical fault halted all train services on both the green and blue lines, throwing the city's peak-hour commute out of gear. The fault, which occurred around 5pm, was rectified on the Blue Line after two hours, but the green line was still down at 10pm.
The blue line connects Wimco Nagar to the airport via Alandur and Meenambakkam. While operations continued between Wimco Nagar Depot and Meenambakkam, the critical airport terminal remained inaccessible, and full services on this line only resumed after 7pm.
Green line services, which typically run from Chennai Central to the airport via Koyambedu, were suspended beyond Alandur. As commuters had to switch trains at Alandur, it resulted in severe congestion and prolonged delays at the interchange. Many passengers disembarked at Meenambakkam in search of taxis and auto-rickshaws to reach the airport, while others waited anxiously at the airport metro station.
'There was no clear announcement. We kept waiting without knowing why trains were not coming,' said Rajesh, a commuter who had been stuck at the station for over an hour. The disruption also spilled on to the Green Line, as commuters from airport headed towards Koyambedu, Vadapalani, and Anna Nagar also boarded the blue line trains and disembarked at Alandur.
At Chennai Central, one of the network's busiest nodes, frustrated commuters jostled to board overcrowded trains. 'There was a huge rush with people pushing to get in,' said a passenger, describing the scene during the breakdown.
Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) acknowledged the technical fault and issued an apology, advising passengers to plan for extended travel times.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
Chaos grips Chennai metro as airport station goes offline for hours
CHENNAI: Metro services at the airport station came to a grinding halt for hours on Wednesday evening after a technical fault halted all train services on both the green and blue lines, throwing the city's peak-hour commute out of gear. The fault, which occurred around 5pm, was rectified on the Blue Line after two hours, but the green line was still down at 10pm. The blue line connects Wimco Nagar to the airport via Alandur and Meenambakkam. While operations continued between Wimco Nagar Depot and Meenambakkam, the critical airport terminal remained inaccessible, and full services on this line only resumed after 7pm. Green line services, which typically run from Chennai Central to the airport via Koyambedu, were suspended beyond Alandur. As commuters had to switch trains at Alandur, it resulted in severe congestion and prolonged delays at the interchange. Many passengers disembarked at Meenambakkam in search of taxis and auto-rickshaws to reach the airport, while others waited anxiously at the airport metro station. 'There was no clear announcement. We kept waiting without knowing why trains were not coming,' said Rajesh, a commuter who had been stuck at the station for over an hour. The disruption also spilled on to the Green Line, as commuters from airport headed towards Koyambedu, Vadapalani, and Anna Nagar also boarded the blue line trains and disembarked at Alandur. At Chennai Central, one of the network's busiest nodes, frustrated commuters jostled to board overcrowded trains. 'There was a huge rush with people pushing to get in,' said a passenger, describing the scene during the breakdown. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) acknowledged the technical fault and issued an apology, advising passengers to plan for extended travel times.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Central Railway locals serve 26 lakh passengers daily; 11 lakh on just Thane-Karjat/Kasara stretch
Mumbai: Of the 26 lakh passengers who travel daily on the Central Railway (CR) Main line, nearly 11 lakh travel between Thane and Karjat or Kasara, highlighting the mounting burden on the suburban stretch. Kaustubh Shinde, an HR professional, said the chaos during rush hour was unbelievable on the CR. "I often can't get off at Mulund as bulky commuters with large backpacks block the exit. Not even a mouse could squeeze through. It's frustrating," he said. The CR has ramped up daily services to 894 from 803 in 2014. Nearly 70% of these—182 in the morning and 188 in the evening—run during peak hours. The frequency up to Kalyan has been increased to a train every three minutes. Transport experts say this may not be enough. Ashok Datar of the Mumbai Mobility Forum said the govt must enforce staggered work timings across private and public sectors to ease the pressure. "Even if 40% of office-goers travel at staggered hours, it can bring visible relief. We can consider shifts like 8.30 am–3.30 pm and 11.30 am–7.30 pm, with only 20% employees on the traditional general shift," he said, adding that essential services like hospitals and police should be exempt from this arrangement. Transport expert Vivek Pati said the train incident on Monday was a reminder that urgent structural reforms were needed. "The Thane-Kalyan stretch has the highest commuter density, and unless we address it with more tracks, cheaper AC train options and better frequency, such incidents will keep repeating. Mixed land use and staggered office hours are a necessity, not a luxury," Pati said. Rail Yatri Parishad chairman Subhash Gupta blamed the overcrowding on the gradual phasing out of non-AC trains. "AC locals during peak hours end up increasing crowd build-up for the next non-AC train," he said. "People risk their lives, hanging by the doors. Most commuters from distant suburbs earn modest salaries. A Rs 5,000, the AC season pass is unaffordable for many. With Metro connectivity improving and those systems already air-conditioned, there is no rush to convert all locals into AC ones." Gupta dismissed the idea of automatic door closures on ordinary locals. "It's been discussed for years but isn't practical. Doors take time to open and close and will delay overall services," he said.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Hans India
Indore Metro begins commercial operation
Indore Metro commenced commercial operations on Sunday, marking a transformative step in the city's urban transportation landscape. While the initial hours saw a relatively low passenger turnout, riders steadily increased by noon, Metro officials reported and said despite the introduction of fares, public enthusiasm remained strong, with expectations of further growth in commuter numbers by evening. Currently, Indore Metro lacks an automated ticketing system, requiring manual compilation of ticket sales and passenger data. Authorities are working toward implementing a streamlined digital system, but for now, ticketing operations continue to be handled manually. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the first phase of the Indore Metro project on May 31, 2025, via video link from Bhopal. The launch coincided with the 300th birth anniversary celebrations of Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar – the revered ruler of Malwa, where the Prime Minister addressed the 'Women Empowerment Mega Conference". During his speech, PM Modi highlighted Indore's global reputation for cleanliness and expressed confidence that the city would now also be recognized for its metro connectivity. The metro's initial operational plan included 50 trips per day, metro authorities said. However, due to the overwhelming response to free travel during the launch phase, the number of daily trips exceeded 100. Starting Monday, the metro service will revert to its original schedule of 50 trips per day. The fare structure has been set at concessional rates, with passengers paying a minimum of five rupees for short distances and eight rupees for a seven-kilometer journey. Promotional discounts will be in effect for the first three months, with fares gradually increasing to standard rates. Officials are now focusing on the upcoming 17-km trial run, which will extend the metro service from Gandhi Nagar to Radisson Hotel Square. This expansion is expected to significantly boost regular ridership, particularly among employees and students from major institutions such as TCS and Infosys, whose campuses are located along the route. Currently, the Metro operates within a seven-km stretch, primarily covering commercial zones. However, as the network expands, its impact on urban mobility and connectivity will become more pronounced, offering residents a modern and efficient transit system. The broader metro network, once fully operational, is expected to cover 31.32 km with 28 stations, further enhancing Indore's public transportation infrastructure.
