In a testament to its growing popularity and utility, Chennai Metro witnessed a remarkable surge in passenger numbers in February 2024, setting a new record for ridership since the inception of the Metro Rail service. With a staggering 86.15 lakh commuters utilizing the metro system during the month, this marks a significant increase of 1.51 lakh passengers compared to January 2024.The statistics reveal a steady rise in metro usage, with January witnessing a total of 84,63,384 passengers, which then escalated to 86,15,008 passengers in February. Notably, February 9th, 2024, emerged as the peak day for ridership, with an impressive 3,26,786 passengers traversing the metro network.
The convenience and efficiency of the QR code ticketing system contributed significantly to the metro’s popularity, with 35,05,644 passengers opting for this mode of ticketing. Among them, 2,12,344 passengers utilized online QR codes, 2,32,315 opted for static QR codes, and a substantial 21,29,890 passengers relied on paper QR tickets. Additionally, 38,94,639 passengers availed Travel Cards, while 28,640 passengers used Tokens, and 5,959 passengers benefited from the Group Ticket System. A select few, totaling 11 passengers, made use of the Singara Chennai Card (National Mobility Card).
To further incentivize metro travel and accommodate more passengers, the Chennai Metro Rail Corporation introduced a 20% fare discount across all ticket types. This discount applied to QR codes, Travel Cards, WhatsApp tickets, as well as transactions made through the Paytm App and PhonePe. The corporation also expanded its ticketing options, allowing commuters to book tickets conveniently through the Chennai Metro Rail WhatsApp Ticket (+91 83000 86000) and the Paytm App.