- By Deeksha Gour
- Sun, 19 Oct 2025 11:05 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Chennai Metro Update: Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is set to reopen all ticket counters and entry gates at Saidapet and Anna Nagar East stations next month, bringing much-needed relief to regular commuters. The move comes after years of passenger complaints about the inconvenience of limited access points.
Currently, several underground metro stations, including Kilpauk, Saidapet, Anna Nagar East, Pachaiyappa’s College and Nehru Park, have ticketing counters and automatic fare collection gates (AFCs) operational at only one end. This has forced passengers to walk long distances inside stations to purchase tickets or swipe their cards before boarding trains.
The Hindu report cited Officials from CMRL as confirming that, work has already begun to make all gates and counters functional at the Saidapet and Anna Nagar East stations. The decision was taken after observing a significant rise in daily ridership at these two stations.
“Passenger numbers have increased substantially. Earlier, we had about 2,000–3,000 commuters a day at these stations. Now, we are seeing nearly 7,000–8,000 passengers daily,” said a CMRL official. “With the increase in demand and repeated requests from commuters, we decided to reopen all the ticket counters and gates to improve accessibility.”
The official added that the process of installing baggage scanners and other security equipment is already underway. “We have started mobilising staff for the additional gates and ticket counters. All work is expected to be completed in two weeks, and the facilities will be operational by the first week of November,” the official said.
Regular metro users have welcomed the move. S. Bala, a commuter at Saidapet station, said the lack of multiple ticketing points often caused long queues during peak hours. “Opening counters on both ends will ease the rush and reduce walking distances. It will also make entry and exit smoother during busy hours,” he said.
For now, CMRL has no plans to expand this initiative to other underground stations. Officials stated that similar upgrades will be considered if passenger numbers increase in those areas.