The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has reported a new milestone, with 93,28,937 passengers using metro services across the city in January 2026 — marking one of the highest monthly ridership figures in its history.According to CMRL, the metro saw an average of over 3 lakh passengers daily, with the peak single-day ridership recorded on January 9, when 3,81,476 commuters travelled across the city’s network. Officials said the figures reflect growing public confidence in the metro as a safe, reliable, and convenient mode of urban transport.
Ticketing Trends:
Nearly half of all passengers used the NCMC Singara Chennai Card (46,52,834), while QR-based digital ticketing methods — including paper QR tokens, WhatsApp QR, Paytm, PhonePe, ONDC, and the CMRL app — were used by 46,32,996 travellers. The travel card system accounted for 43,107 passengers. The data highlights a rapid shift toward digital and contactless ticketing, alongside the continued use of traditional options.
CMRL officials noted that the growth in ridership underscores the metro’s expanding role in Chennai’s public transport ecosystem, especially with ongoing network expansions under Phase II aimed at connecting more areas and reducing traffic congestion.
The metro’s rising popularity comes as Chennai continues to develop integrated urban mobility solutions, including feeder bus services and improved station facilities. Officials are optimistic that continued service enhancements and expansion projects will further boost ridership, making the metro the preferred choice for daily commuters.
With over 93 lakh passengers travelling in just one month, Chennai Metro is setting new benchmarks for urban mass transit in South India.