First day ride in Chennai Metro

It was 3 PM, I was sitting in my desk browsing news sites when it caught my attention – the launch of Chennai Metro, after a wait of four years by citizens of the city. Instead of a post lunch nap, I decided to go for a ride in Metro, which was opened just 3 hours before by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The Ekattuthangal station for Metro was just few feet from my office. I traveled from Ekattuthangal to Koyambedu and return, the whole journey took about 1 hour, costed Rs.40 one way, for common man it’s certainly expensive I should say.

Currently there are two platforms, one platform for trains going from Koyambedu to Alandur, another platform for the reverse. You can buy a blue colour plastic token for one time travel at the counter by paying cash or use one of the vending machines which dispense Travel card as well for multiple trips. If you are using the blue token, on entry you waive it in top of the automated gates and on exit you drop it in the same automated gates there.

You can see airport like baggage security at every entrance, legible sign boards in Tamil & English every where to point you to correct platforms. I was impressed with security guards posted at every platform to whistle and warn people not to cross the yellow line in front of the tracks. The stations, coaches, signs & security arrangements were all clean and fresh, hope my fellow citizens will cooperate with the authorities in maintaining it that way.

After buying ticket for Ekattuthangal I wrongly got off in CMBT (Chennai Moffussil Bus Terminus) station, only to realise the last stop Koyambedu is the next station and it’s next to Koyambedu wholesale Vegetable market.

The view of the city from Chennai Metro is awesome, see the brief video of the view of Vadapalani area.