Chennai’s Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) will explore stronger feeder bus services along the Poonamallee Bypass-Porur Junction-Vadapalani corridor of Metro Rail Phase II, in coordination with Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL), MTC Managing Director VP Jayaseelan said. The move is intended to improve transfers between buses and the 11 Metro stations planned along the corridor.
The two transport agencies will assess passenger feedback and travel requirements before deciding whether additional bus services are needed. They will also examine the feasibility of creating dedicated bus stops at individual Metro stations, according to the MTC.
Buses currently operate in both directions through the corridor’s Metro stations and connect them with different parts of Chennai. Bus stops have also been located near stations to support transfers, although the number of bus trips serving each station varies significantly.
Poonamallee Bus Terminus Metro station currently records the highest number of bus trips among the stations listed by the MTC, with 5,155 trips. Poonamallee Government Hospital and Karayanchavadi follow with 4,423 trips each.
Kumananchavadi station is served by 3,766 bus trips, while Porur station has 3,320. The figures for Telliyagaram, Porur Bypass, Iyyappanthangal, Poonamallee Bypass and Kattupakkam are 2,711, 2,639, 2,522, 1,793 and 1,737 trips, respectively. Vadapalani station has 1,130 bus trips.
The variation is particularly important for commuters using Metro stations as interchange points. While the MTC has marked bus-stop locations at each station to help passengers identify them, the agencies will now consider whether existing arrangements are sufficient for station-level access and transfers.
The proposed coordination reflects the operational challenge of integrating a high-capacity Metro corridor with the bus routes that bring passengers to and from stations. A Metro station’s usefulness to surrounding neighbourhoods depends not only on train services but also on the availability, location and frequency of connecting buses.
The Poonamallee Bypass-Porur Junction-Vadapalani corridor is part of Chennai Metro Rail Phase II. The MTC said the joint review with CMRL is aimed at improving connectivity between public transport services and encouraging more residents to use public transport.
The next steps are the assessment of passenger feedback and travel demand, followed by a feasibility review of additional services and dedicated bus stops at the stations.
