E-Bikes to operate in Chennai Metro as four stations to have electronic charging facility

CHENNAI:

Chennai Metro Rail will set up electric vehicle (EV) charging facility at four metro stations in partnership with PowerGrid Corporation of India Ltd.

The electric bike charging stations will be set up by PowerGrid Corporation at Tirumangalam, St Thomas Mount, Alandur and Koyambedu Metro Stations.

Chennai Metro is planning to launch e-bikes and is in talks with a Bengaluru based company, Metro Rail sources said. It is learnt that the e-bikes scheme could be more or less akin to that introduced by Bengaluru Metro.

In Bengaluru, the e-bike is keyless and could be accessed through an app which sends OTP to the mobile phone.

This also comes in the wake of National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) to achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles in the country

Meanwhile, car parking woes in Chennai Egmore is being addressed by Chennai Metro. The Egmore Metro station has a space to accommodate 100 cars unlike Southern Railway which lacks car parking space.

“For per hour parking of a car in its vicinity, Chennai Metro is charging Rs 50,” a Chennai Metro spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Chennai Metro’s ridership has increased after the opening of Nehru Park to Chennai Central Stretch and Little Mount to AG-DMS stretch.

Chennai Metro is currently running 25 trains in peak hours from 8 to 10.30am and in the evening 5pm to 8.30pm. During non-peak hours, Chennai Metro is operating 20 trains and keeping in standby two trains.

A total of 196 trips per day is being undertaken by Chennai Metro from Chennai Central to St Thomas Metro Station and AG-DMS to Airport. Chennai Metro is also operating 134 trips per day from Chennai Central to Airport. A total of 526 trips a day is being operated by Chennai Metro in both the corridors.

Factfile:

1.  Chennai Metro to introduce e-bikes in four metro stations.

2.  E-vehicle charging points to be set up at Tirumangalam, St Thomas Mount, Alandur and Koyambedu Metro Stations.

3.  Chennai Metro ridership crosses 50,000 per day

4.  Chennai Metro operates a total of 526 trips a day in both the corridors