Public Transport in Chennai

It seems Chennai would have its own Metro rail in couple of years time. See this link http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/4048403.cms

I fully expect them to exactly replicate the suburban trains on it.

Modern. clean trains, like Delhi has, would just be so out of place in Chennai!

Yes , the work is underway and surveying of some kind is happening in koyambedu

That'll be 327.6 metres, bearing 48.65 degrees, from this cabbage to that pile of onions...

You got the bearings wrong . You are way off too much to the north .

I said metres... not Kilometres!

But yes, I see that "Land acquisition has started" for the Metro project.

Right. So it'll take as long as some of our flyovers have, then .

I hope not!

I hope someone here can help me.. I would like to go to Mamallapuram this Saturday and prefer to go by bus. But I've looked around on the websites mentioned in this topic and I can't figure out which bus I need. My travel starts at Ambattur (or almost Ambattur, I believe it's in the part called Industrial Estate..)

There is no escape from Ambattur industrial estate. Mamallapuram must remain but a dream!




But seriously, I think you only need to get to Koyambedu bus station and ask, and you will find one of the regular buses.

This thread is awesome. The work put in by PLaneMad will save many headaches.

Nothing beats the speed of the train for my normal commute when I occasionally come to Chennai. (Airport to Chetpet). However, just one question, and it's one that constantly bugs me! How does one succesfully get from the terminals at the airport to Tirusulum station?? I mean I know the answer as I have done it many times, but there must be an easier way. Walking over the foot high curbs, cattle grates, sand patches and down the mental subway whilst dragging 32 kilos of check in luggage and at least 50kilos of hand baggage (which I somehow still manage to get away with) whilst being shadowed by ueberkeen taxi drivers is just not much fun. Add to that the 35 degree heat and 100% humidity. Why can't the airport or some keen entrepeneur run a shuttle?

In the past I have even considered leaving the luggage with someone, walking out to the street and flagging down an Auto just to get him to do the 300m ride with the luggage. Is this doable? Would he charge me something this end of a 100 bucks? Why are there no autos at the airport? Would a taxi take you? My one question is already turning into 7! Sorry... but anybody got any ideas?

Autos are not allowed to tout for customers at the airport, but they drop people off, so they are there, and I suspect that, if you make contact with one, he would take you. It would have to be a quick transaction, as he would not be interested in explaining his actions to the ever-present police.

Thanks! I know there's no escape.. We're far away from everything.. But it looks like I'm going to spend some hours at the office first.. Do u have any idea if there is also a direct bus from Broadway? And what number it has or something? Because when I use the "busfinder" link, I can't enter Mamallapuram..

No, I don't know, I'm afraid. I'm not at all a bus expert; more of a driver --- although I did my outing today by share-auto out and walking back.

ooh, i suspect a beach party :P

get to koyambedu cmbt, you have plenty of buses from there as Nick said. theres even an ac bus, 568c i think

india wasnt built to be easy but seriously, i wonder what fool of a planner (if we can call him that) approved the whole system

Is public transport reliable - i.e. does it come/depart on scheduled time, pre-announce if they dont operate, etc? How safe is it for ladies to travel? Also, are there phone numbers for cabs you can call if you're stuck?? thanks!