Chennai: The newly opened Phase 2 metro stretch between Vadapalani and Poonamallee Bypass extended its morning operating hours by an hour on Friday, but commuters say the change is insufficient. They want Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to extend service hours further and increase train frequency, citing crowding throughout the day.Trains currently operate from 6am to 9pm. Office commuters and air passengers want Phase 2 services to match Phase 1, which runs from 5am to 11pm. Students have also sought an increase in peak-hour frequency from 10 minutes to six minutes, as on the Phase 1 network.Commuters say crowding and poor passenger management at Vadapalani are adding to their difficulties. “Even if we wait for the next train, it is often equally crowded. At Vadapalani, crowd management is poor. Passengers rush to board before others get off, creating chaos and stampede-like situations,” said R Vinod, a student from Porur. He called for queues and regulated boarding to prevent passengers from pushing their way into trains.The problem is compounded by delays when passengers switch between Phase 1 and Phase 2 services at Vadapalani. K Santosh, an office-goer from Iyyappanthangal, said synchronised timings could make the interchange more convenient. “When we switch platforms, mismatched timings mean we have to wait longer. More frequent trains and better coordination would help,” he said.For air passengers, the limited operating hours are another concern. “The Phase 1 network is particularly useful for passengers taking early-morning flights. CMRL must seriously consider extending service hours on Phase 2 as well,” said A Prabhakar, an IT employee from Porur.A CMRL official said there had been no discussion yet on extending service hours or increasing train frequency. “We are using non-operational hours to complete civil works on the double-decker corridor and other unfinished works, besides testing driverless trains on the Vadapalani–Poonamallee Bypass stretch,” the official said.
