Chennai, Sept 2:
Chennai Metro Rail Limited recorded more than 1.04 crore passenger trips in August 2026, underlining the growing dependence on the Metro network for daily commuting across the city.
According to CMRL, 1,04,04,098 passengers travelled on the Metro between August 1 and 31. The highest single-day passenger footfall was recorded on August 14, when 4,01,607 passengers used the system.
The latest figures come after Chennai Metro also recorded more than 1.06 crore passenger journeys in July, showing that monthly ridership has remained consistently above the one-crore mark.
The Singara Chennai Card, the National Common Mobility Card, continued to be a major mode of payment. As many as 52,84,196 passenger trips were recorded through the card during August.
Digital and QR-based ticketing systems also accounted for a substantial number of journeys. Single Journey Paper QR tickets recorded 20,20,687 transactions, while ONDC accounted for 12,47,168.
WhatsApp-based ticketing recorded 4,69,198 transactions, followed by Paytm at 3,09,569, Chennai One App at 3,10,474 and PhonePe at 2,73,438. Static QR recorded 2,28,732 transactions, while online QR accounted for 1,56,385.
CMRL continues to offer a 20% discount on ticketing through the Singara Chennai Card and several digital QR platforms, including WhatsApp, Paytm, PhonePe and the Digital Store Value Pass available through the CMRL mobile application.
The discount, however, does not apply to Single Journey Paper QR tickets purchased at ticket counters.
The sustained ridership reflects the increasing role of Metro services in Chennai’s public transport system, particularly as the city continues to experience rapid growth in traffic and commuting distances.
CMRL said it remained committed to providing passengers with a safe, efficient and reliable public transport system and thanked commuters for their continued support.