In preparation for the imminent reopening of schools and colleges, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai has embarked on a significant endeavour. This initiative will enhance the safety of student commuters. Recognising the risks associated with students travelling on footboards, especially during peak hours, the MTC has initiated a campaign to install older buses with automatic doors.
Chennai’s MTC Installs Automatic Doors On Buses
MTC Chennai is taking various measures for commuter safety.
As part of this, automatic doors are being fixed on #MTC buses. A total of 468 buses were identified without doors. In the first phase, 200 buses were selected, and doors were successfully fixed on all of them. In the… pic.twitter.com/q8eCPgbJ0t
— MTC Chennai (@MtcChennai) May 31, 2024
With a keen focus on ensuring the safety of students travelling on vital routes like 23C and 29, MTC has identified 468 older buses for this retrofitting project. These routes connect major educational institutions such as Presidency and Nandanam colleges. As of now, a commendable 448 buses have already been equipped with automatic doors. The remaining installations are also set to be completed within the upcoming week.
The decision to implement automatic doors comes after previous attempts to discourage students from travelling on footboards. Previously, conductor interventions to convince them proved to be challenging and sometimes even confrontational. According to the Times of India, Alby John, the managing director of MTC, highlighted the practical difficulties faced by conductors in enforcing these rules consistently. He also pointed out the potential safety hazards that students faced.
Upon the completion of this retrofitting initiative, nearly two-thirds of MTC’s fleet will be equipped with automatic doors. It will certainly improve passenger safety substantially. However, approximately 900 older buses slated for replacement have been excluded from this upgrade, as per the Times of India reports.
Introducing Electronic Ticketing For Commuters
📢 Dear MTC Chennai Commuters!
𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 (𝗘𝗧𝗠𝘀) 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝟯𝟮 𝗠𝗧𝗖 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀!
These ETMs, inaugurated on 28th February 2024,… pic.twitter.com/kxGoguffgb
— MTC Chennai (@MtcChennai) June 1, 2024
MTC has also begun outfitting 1,200 buses with under-runs to mitigate the risk of road users getting trapped under the wheels in case of accidents. It will further enhance overall safety measures.
Furthermore, MTC has taken a step towards modernising its ticketing system with the implementation of Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs). In a recent announcement, MTC informed commuters about the full deployment of ETMs across all its depots. These machines were inaugurated on February 28, 2024. They offer commuters multiple payment options, including UPI, card, and cash transactions. They will certainly enhance the convenience and efficiency of ticketing processes.
MTC is prioritising passenger safety and the overall commuting experience for the residents of Chennai.
Cover Image Courtesy: MTC Chennai/X