Skip to main content

Commuters using the bi-directional ticketing gates at Thousand Lights Metro Station on Friday.

Commuters using the bi-directional ticketing gates at Thousand Lights Metro Station on Friday.
| Photo Credit: R. Ravindran

To ease congestion at entry/exit points at some of the high-footfall stations, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has installed bi-directional ticketing gates. Unlike existing ticketing gates, which are designated to allow either entry or exit, the new ones can be used for both, though not at the same time, based on necessity.

Across the 45-km Phase I network, a majority of stations have four entry/exit points, with nearly 20 automatic fare collection (AFC) gates or ticketing gates. At most locations, there are 10 gates each for entry and exit. It was planned this way to avoid congestion by streamlining passenger movement. Of late, some stations have had queues form at ticketing gates during peak hours.

According to CMRL officials, CMRL has installed bi-directional AFC gates at stations including Thousand Lights, Government Estate, and AG-DMS to address the problem. Sources said the plan was to install bi-directional gates at other stations such as Chennai Airport, Guindy, and Thirumangalam.

“These gates can be used for either entry or exit depending on the demand and rush. For instance, Thousand Lights Metro, which is surrounded by several government and private organisations, has a footfall of about 15,000-17,000 passengers daily. There is a huge surge of passengers at exit gates between 8 a.m. and 9.30 a.m., as they are rushing to their workplaces. Similarly, long queues form at entry gates between 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m., as people are heading home. Hence, we use the bi-directional gates as ‘exit gates’ in the morning and ‘entry gates’ in the evening,” an official said.

Arunachalam, a frequent Metro Rail commuter, said this move would be beneficial to passengers during peak hours. “While this is a great initiative, another infrastructure that people really need is an additional escalator from street level to the concourse. Long queues form at the elevator daily,” he added.