CUMTA begins public survey in Chennai on last mile connectivity and bus operation
The authority has requested the commuters to cooperate with the survey team and provide their input.
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CHENNAI: As part of the Bus Transport and Last Mile Connectivity Improvement Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) covering 5,904 sq km, Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has commenced a public survey. The authority has requested commuters to cooperate with the survey team and provide their inputs.
A CUMTA press note said the survey, which is conducted with the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd. as the consultant, started on November 25 and will continue till January 15. Passenger surveys will be conducted on board MTC, TNSTC and private buses, at bus terminals, metro rail stations, suburban rail stations and intermediate public transport (share auto, cabs and autos) stands throughout the CMA.
A survey on boarding and alighting passenger count on buses, entry-exit counts of buses at terminals and interviews of para-transit operators will also be carried out.
"The study will undertake a comprehensive bus route rationalisation and service improvement planning exercise to develop a route network hierarchy and service scheduling approach. CUMTA also intends to integrate buses, rail, and metro to make intermodal journeys seamless and affordable, and perform a baseline assessment of Intermediate Public Transport services in Chennai,” the release added.
The Plan will review all bus operations, routes and the route network operating in the CMA and suggest phase-wise improvements in existing operations, routes and the route network as well as suggest new bus services, routes and route network. The current route network and services of IPT will also be assessed and analysed so as to ensure the integration of public transport and IPT services in the city.
"The surveys will provide valuable insights into passenger travel patterns, requirements and perceptions, based on which routes and services will be planned to provide seamless connectivity between different transport modes (such as bus, metro and suburban rail) and ensure excellent first and last-mile connectivity,” the authority said.
