A Chennai Metro train leaves the Alandur station near the Kathipara cloverleaf interchange (Representative Image) (Jaison G/India Today Group/Getty Images)Metro services were halted for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the restart of its operations has met positive responses from the passengers.
Almost 25,000 individuals have boarded the Chennai Metro since it resumed services on 7 September, Metro Rail News reports. 5,033 passengers travelled from the same in the city on the very first day itself.
However, the authorities are working towards taking measures that ensure that there is as less contact as possible whilst people continue to utilise the train services. As of 9 September, a sum total of 18,769 passengers utilised the Smart Card ticketing system.
On the other hand, only 637 people made use of the QR code to avail their tickets. To operate the Smart Card, one needs to stand in lengthy queues and it is difficult to practice social distancing that way.
Hence, starting from Friday onward, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) offered 20 per cent discount on QR code ticketing so that passengers are encouraged to adopt that method for their travels.
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