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The Hindu

CMRL to seek nod for operating last-mile connectivity vehicles

: Chennai Metro Rail plans to write to the State government seeking permission to operate vehicles to improve last-mile connectivity at ten major stations in the phase-I and phase-I extension network. Barring a brief period before the pandemic when Chennai Metro Rail ran share cabs and share autorickshaws at several stations, there has never been any sustained effort to operate such shuttle services from the neighbourhood areas.Moreover, mini-buses are being operated only from some stations. Manystations of the 54-km-longphase-I and phase-I extension network are located on arterial roads such as Anna Salai, GST Road and Poonamallee Road. While this is beneficial to office-goers as the Metro Rail network connects many government and private establishments, commuters without vehicles struggle to reach the stations from residential areas. According to officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), they will write to the State Transport Department shortly, requesting permission for operating such last-mile connectivity services. 'We are going to ask them to allow us to operate these last-mile connectivity vehicles or shuttle services under the provisions of State Transport Undertaking of the State government. If they give us the nod, then we can go ahead with floating the bids for the project,' an official said. Ten stations, including Wimco Nagar, Chennai Airport, Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar East, Nanganallur, Koyambedu, Vadapalani and Washermenpet, will have shuttle buses if CMRL gets the approval. At terminal stations such as Chennai Airport and Wimco Nagar, the shuttle buses will cover a 10-km radius. In the remaining stations, they will operate over a 5-km radius. 'We are thinking of operating 8, 10, 15 and 25-seater vehicles based on the demand in each station,' another official said. V.A.R. Srivatson, a resident of Nanganallur who often travels to the High Court and Thousand Lights said, if people took an autorickshaw to the nearest station, it would certainly cost more than the metro fare. 'Additionally, not everyone can walk from their residence to the station as the streets are bereft of well-paved footpaths in several areas. In the interest of train patrons, the CMRL must resume last-mile connectivity system soon,' he said.