Chennai Public Transport Share Drops To 31 Percent As Private Vehicle Use Surges

Despite the expansion of the metro, suburban rail, and bus networks over the last three decades, public transport usage in the Chennai Metropolitan Area has dropped to just 31 percent in 2026. The decline is acutely felt by daily commuters traveling to commercial hubs like Egmore, where poor last-mile connectivity and a lack of parking near transit nodes have forced residents to rely on private vehicles.

According to official data, the share of public transport in daily trips has registered an 11 percent dip from the 42 percent recorded in 1991. This stands in stark contrast to the state government's Second Master Plan (SMP), conceived in 2005, which projected that public transport would account for 70 percent of all motorized trips by 2026. Instead, private vehicles now account for over 65 percent of the estimated 2.13 crore daily motorized trips in the metropolitan area.

The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) estimates that only about 51 lakh daily trips are currently made using public transport, representing roughly 24 percent of total trips. Meanwhile, cars and two-wheelers account for 45 percent of all trips, auto-rickshaws make up 5.7 percent, and walking and cycling account for 26 percent. Daily bus trips have also fallen short, recording only 39 lakh trips compared to the SMP projection of 87 lakh.

Commuters highlight the difficulty of accessing transit points as a primary reason for avoiding public transport. S Vimalkumar, a resident of Choolaimedu who works in Egmore, shared his daily struggle. Though a suburban train from Kodambakkam would get him to Egmore in 10 minutes, he chooses to ride his two-wheeler for 20 minutes instead.

Vimalkumar explained that walking to the Kodambakkam railway station from his home takes at least 20 minutes. He noted that he would gladly switch to the cheaper train option if local connectivity to the station or safe parking facilities were improved.

Addressing these challenges, CUMTA special officer I Jeyakumar stated that the number of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses had stagnated for years, though the fleet was recently increased to 4,000. He also noted that the suburban rail network covers only 250 kilometers.

Unlike other metropolitan cities that grow vertically, Jeyakumar explained that Chennai's horizontal growth prevents public transportation from easily reaching suburban residents. This has contributed to the share of two-wheelers in the city rising from 7 percent to 40 percent over the last 30 years.

To address the connectivity gap, a study conducted last month by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) recommended that the MTC deploy 520 mini buses. The study suggested these buses be used to link residential areas with major transport corridors and expand school bus routes.