Chennai Metro Delays Ticketing Gate Upgrades, Causing Commuter Inconvenience

Nearly a year after floating bids for new automatic fare collection systems, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has yet to award tenders for adding and replacing ticketing gates across its Phase I network. This prolonged delay has resulted in significant inconvenience for commuters, who are often forced to take longer walks to access open entrances during peak hours at stations such as Anna Nagar East, Nehru Park, and Mannady. Additionally, persistent minor glitches at major hubs like Chennai Airport and Chennai Central continue to cause waiting times and disruptions. CMRL officials attribute the procurement delay to time extension requests from bidders and numerous queries that required resolution. However, they expect to finalize the tender award within the coming weeks. Once a contractor is selected, it will take approximately six months for the delivery of the new gates, followed by an additional month for installation during non-operational hours. The upgrade aims to replace existing infrastructure with upgraded models and install additional units to address shortfalls, ultimately improving passenger flow and reducing congestion in the 54-km network.