Chennai to Get Major Public Transport Overhaul with New Mobility Plan in August

The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has been organizing plans to present an encompassing Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) in August next year to administer city-wide transformations in transportation for the forthcoming twenty years.

These plans, which offer sustainable development aligned with the contemporary goals of mobility, intend to improve public transport, introduce multimodal integration alongside better land-use planning, as well as enhance pedestrian infrastructure.

A senior authority shared that the CMP gives utmost significance to the Phase III and IV projects of Chennai Metro Rail.

Additionally, the plan includes proposals for Light Rail Transit (LRT) corridors to serve as feeder networks to the metro, and the introduction of bus priority lanes modeled on Bus Rapid Transit systems.

The CMP is currently under review, with the second executive committee meeting between CUMTA and other government departments scheduled for next week. If approved, the plan will be submitted to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for final clearance.

With Chennai’s reliance on two-wheelers rising from 29.6% in 2018 to 36.6% in 2023, the CMP aims to reverse this trend by improving the appeal and efficiency of public transport. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) currently operates 3,300 buses, though the city requires around 6,000. Plans are in place to increase the fleet to 4,500 by next year, with projections for future growth over the next 25 years.

CUMTA is also prioritizing pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Of the city’s total roads, only 16% have footpaths, and 12% of those are encroached. The CMP proposes targeted improvements along 1,500 km of footpaths, with 200 km slated for annual upgrades. Separate maintenance contracts for different departments, including the Greater Chennai Corporation and the Highways Department, have been recommended to ensure accountability.

The plan also proposes decongestion strategies for East Coast Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai through improved connectivity.

“This isn’t just a transport plan — it’s a vision for how Chennai moves, lives, and grows for the next 20 years,” a senior CUMTA official said.