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Chennai Metro Rail


At-last comes an opportunity to travel in the Chennai Metro train. CMRL has just taken the city up to another level. With automated ticketing entry and exit, escalators and lifts, ticket vending machines, snacks selling vending machines and automatic doors of coaches the Metro is indeed a boon to Chennai.


It takes sometime to digest the fact that the all modern and immaculate is all ours for Chennai-ites. The flooring are done in granite and maintained clean and neat. Hand bags and carry baggage are set to scrutiny through the scanner as in airport security check-ins; a must in today's state of the world. Around the ticket counter are the different vending machines for snack packets and for ticketing. Counters are less manned due to lesser number of passengers. Employees are friendly and provide all help that is necessary for first timers.



CMRL has employed people near the platforms to ensure they get into the right train and no one stays close to the tracks. Our journey started at Alandur Metro Station. Being a junction this station hosts 4 platforms, 2 in each level. 2 for Airport to Washermenpet and other 2 to Central via Koyambedu. Central station is another junction hosting 5 platforms. Alandur metro station has ample parking space for two wheeler and cars. The parking duration is calculated with the qcode-d tickets. Also available here are two wheeler for rent which one can hire to drive from the station. Feeder service are provided through autos and share autos in the station premises.



Platforms levels can be reached through lifts and escalators. Unlike the escalators in the malls, these go higher up to 2 levels so look quiet steep. The boards kept to guide us for navigation is still not up to the standard, has to be improved to electronic in the coming days. On reaching the platform one can see the track, that area is yet to be enclosed. Announcements are made on the upcoming trains and also displayed electronically. From Alandur to Saidapet the view of the city is splendid.



While reaching Saidapet station the train nose dives into the underground so the rest of the journey is covered in darkness outside. The coaches are well structured and looks spic and span so far. There is no separation between compartment. The lights in the train's route path in the coach guides our train travel. The first compartment is dedicated to ladies. Mobiles phones go waste as there is no signal available. In case of emergency, option is kept to call the train driver. Advertisement hoardings inside are kept minimal and not jarring. So sitting inside the train seems pleasant.



On reaching the destination the ticket given in the form of plastic coin will have to be dropped at exit to go out. Ticket costs Rs.50 from Alandur to Mannady. Again lifts an escalators operate to take you up from the underground. When we made our exit at Mannady metro was smooth without requiring any help. While travelling back noticed that the under ground rail tracks are enclosed and doors open only when the train arrives to let you in. 



While waiting for the train we did not have enough seating options, this may have been ignored due to more frequency of the trains. Also in the undergo station when there is no air conditioning available it becomes very difficult until the train arrives especially in this scorching summer. But for these it was an enjoying ride and a must need commutation for the city of Chennai. CMRL - the all new way to go!!!
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Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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