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Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
CMRL to add 28 new 6-car trains by 2028
Chennai: Metro commuters can expect shorter waits and less crowding on peak-hour trains by 2028, as Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) plans to induct 28 new six-car trains on its phase I network. This will reduce train frequency to three minutes on corridor one (Airport-Wimco Nagar) and 4–5 minutes on corridor two (Chennai Central-St Thomas Mount), replacing the current arrangement where trains run every 6 to 12 minutes on some sections and often operate as short-loop services — such as between Washermenpet and Alandur — rather than covering the full stretch. CMRL's 54km phase I has seen rising ridership, pushing current infrastructure to its limits. "Anticipating a surge in demand following commissioning of phase II by 2026-27 and the extension of corridor one to Kilambakkam, CMRL is upgrading its fleet and operations," said T Archunan, director (projects), CMRL. By 2028, corridor one is expected to carry up to 13,900 passengers an hour in a direction, while corridor two may take about 5,600 during peak hours. To manage this, CMRL will transition to a combined fleet of 80 trains by 2028 — 52 existing four-car sets and 28 new six-car sets. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like O novo dispositivo que os idosos usam para ajudar na neuropatia (dor nos nervos) A arte do herbalismo Undo To support six-car operations, infrastructure upgrades are planned at 21 underground stations. Nineteen of these require electrical integration for Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) — glass doors on platforms that open only when trains arrive — and some need full platform extensions and fresh PSD installations. Elevated stations such as those at Guindy, Alandur, Airport, and CMBT will also receive new PSDs, as per tender documents. These retrofits are being planned to meet 2036 demand in one phase, avoiding repeat work later. Depots too are being scaled up. The Koyambedu and Wimco Nagar depots will see new stabling lines, upgraded washing plants, inspection bays, and MP (machinery and plant) capacity to handle the expanded fleet. Commuters say it's high time CMRL added more trains — 2028 already feels too late. "During morning peak hours, it's so crowded near the doors that boarding or getting off is a struggle, and it can get risky. Bags or clothes sometimes get caught in the automatic doors," said D Ramakrishnan, a resident-activist from Adambakkam.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bus app misfires as GPS faults derail live tracking
Chennai: Commuters relying on the govt's Chennai Bus app to track Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses may want to think twice—the app is currently running on a mix of faulty data, and incompatible GPS kits. Some of the newest additions—blue-coloured low-floor buses—have defective GPS kits. The issue came to light when Srikanth, a software engineer, reverse-engineered the app and posted his findings on X. He claimed that at least 15 new low-floor buses were sitting idle at depots for extended periods, raising questions about operational inefficiency. Resident-activist D Ramakrishnan from Adambakkam added, "We understand old buses being out for repairs. But why are brand new buses, less than a year old, out of service for months?" MTC rejected this and said that none of the buses were grounded and that periodic maintenance might cause temporary inactivity. It also acknowledged a transition to a new technology partner and promised that live tracking would resume shortly. Meanwhile, flawed GPS data not only misled passengers but unfairly blamed staff. Drivers are questioned for delays even when on time or stuck in traffic because the app shows wrong timings. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Que tipo de dedos você tem? É isso que diz sobre a sua personalidade! Conselhos E Truques Undo T Prabhushankar, Managing Director of MTC, said the earlier contract with Chalo—the private firm handling GPS tracking for MTC buses—had ended, and was temporarily extended until a new concessionaire takes over under the government's Smart City initiative. He admitted that around 10% of the new buses, though equipped with in-built GPS devices, were either incompatible with the current system or rendered ineffective due to server update issues. "This will be addressed under the new project as part of the Chennai Intelligent Transport System (CITS). We are in a transition phase and expect to resolve these issues within a month," he said. The CITS project will also introduce Passenger Information Systems (PIS) to display real-time bus data, including expected arrival times, at terminals, bus stops, and transit hubs. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
