Click it and Unblock the Notifications
To reduce crowding during busy hours, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has started adding more automatic fare collection (AFC) gates and setting up excess fare counters at the concourse level of metro stations. This move is aimed at helping passengers move faster, especially during morning and evening rush hours.
Two Additional Entry Gates
Recently, two additional entry gates and two exit gates were installed at Thiyagaraya College and Saidapet metro stations. CMRL has also announced that more gates will be added soon at other busy stations, such as Anna Nagar East and Shenoy Nagar.
Thiyagaraya College Metro Station
According to CMRL officials, Thiyagaraya College metro station sees an average daily footfall of about 6,000 passengers. During peak hours, the limited number of gates earlier caused long queues. To solve this issue, extra gates were installed, and excess fare counters were placed near the gates. These counters help passengers who have travelled beyond their ticketed destination by allowing them to pay the additional fare quickly.
Chennai's Metro Network
Across Chennai's metro network, all 41 stations have an average of 12 AFC gates for entry and exit between the concourse and platforms. Major interchange stations, including Central and Alandur, have even more gates, usually between 18 and 20, to handle heavier passenger traffic.
Passengers' Opinions
Regular commuters have welcomed this change. One passenger stated that earlier, they had to wait in long lines after security checks due to fewer gates. Since the new gates were installed in December, queues have reduced, and passengers can now reach the platforms much faster.
Most of the newly installed gates are bi-directional, which means they can be used for either entry or exit as needed. This feature helps manage crowds better, especially at stations like Thousand Lights, where passenger movement changes between morning and evening peak hours.
