Now, Switching Between Chennai Metro, MRTS Trains And MTC Buses Hassle Free: CUMTA Act And Relevant Rules Notified

In a boost to commuters in Chennai, the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) Act and its relevant rules were notified on Wednesday (16 January), eight years after it received the Governor’s nod and was published in the Gazette, reports The New Indian Express.

This means that seamless travel on Chennai’s public transport systems would soon be a reality for the city’s commuters.

The Chief Urban Planner of CMDA would be the CEO of CUMTA. The Authority will also have a traffic and transportation expert nominated by the government having knowledge and experience in the field of transport economics, operations, planning, management, engineering and other aspects related to urban transport.

The newly notified authority will co-opt three people as members to represent the operators of new modes of transits, experts in the area of urban transportation, and for representing public transit, pedestrians, cyclists, passengers and similar groups.

These members, with three-year tenure, will have the same privileges, status and rights as a nominated member and will be paid a sitting fee. A budget will have to be prepared by 15 September of every year as the authority will have a separate fund and budget.

CUMTA, if implemented well, could ensure that a commuter could switch from one mode of transit to another with minimum hassle as the public transport systems would be integrated to work together.