In a recent development, Chennai Metro Rail Limited has now installed bi-directional ticketing gates at key stations to allow commuters to enter and exit seamlessly. This new change is being implemented to address congestion during rush hours. Read on to know more.
Chennai Metro Installs Bi-Directional Gates At Key Metro Stations
The new bi-directional gates installed by Chennai Metro Rail Limited can be used by commuters for either entry or exit, depending on the need. As per a report by The Hindu, these new gates have been set up at several metro stations, including Thousand Lights, Government Estate and AG-DMS. The authorities plan to further expand this system to stations, including Chennai Airport, shortly.
The main aim of these bi-directional gates is to ease congestion at entry and exit points during rush hours at stations that see a high footfall daily. The existing ticketing gates allow only entry or exit. In contrast, the new ones will support both functions, but not at the same time. Officials will decide their direction based on necessity and the crowd.
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Gates To Be Switched Based On Rush Hours
An official of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited shared with The Hindu that these gates can be used either for entry or exit, depending on the demand. He also added that Thousand Lights Metro, which is surrounded by several government and private offices, has a daily footfall of about 15,000 to 17,000 passengers. Large crowds at the exit gates form long queues in the morning between 8:00 am-9:30 am. The same happens in the evening between 5:30 pm-6:30 pm when people rush back to their homes. This is why the bi-directional gates will function as ‘exit gates’ in the morning and ‘entry gates’ in the evening.
Reportedly, most stations across the 45-km Phase 1 network have 4 entry and exit points. Each station is equipped with nearly 20 automatic fare collection (AFC) ticketing gates. CMRL planned the bi-directional gates to avoid congestion and make passenger movement smoother. According to the officials, they also plan to install these gates at other busy stations, including Chennai Airport, Guindy, and Thirumangalam.
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What do you think of these new bi-directional gates at Chennai Metro stations? According to us, this is a smart move for both passengers and officials during peak hours. It will help manage the rush and reduce long queues.
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