About Chennai Local Transport :
Chennai is one of the largest cities in India and therefore requires an effective local transport system to enable people to commute within the city. Although there are various means of public transport available in Madras, motorcycles, mopeds and motor scooters are still very popular. This is because they are affordable, fuel efficient, maneuverable and require lesser parking space. The transportation network of Chennai is user friendly and provides coverage and connectivity. To make things more convenient for the travelers, the city has been undergoing construction of flyovers at important roads and junctions. Read on to know more about modes of local transport in Madras.
Bus in Chennai :
Buses are the primary source of transport in Chennai. The bus service in the city is run by the government-owned Metropolitan Transport Corporation. These buses cover almost the entire city as well as the nearby suburbs. The bus service is usually comfortable, with an exception of being crowded sometimes.
Auto Rickshaws in Chennai :
Auto rickshaws are a comfortable way of traveling within the city. Usually the autos are metered, but it is good to fix the fare before they take you for a ride. Autos are expensive as compared to buses and suitable for covering short distances within the city.
Taxis in Chennai :
Taxis are quite popular amongst the tourists who come to explore the city. These taxis are best preferred when you have to travel a long distance and require a vehicle for a long period of time. Taxis charge according to the distance they will cover and are preferable if you are traveling with a group.
Other Means of transport in Chennai :
Apart from all the above, there are a number of transport options available for the people in Chennai. You can hire Vans, popularly known as Maxi Cabs, which run on different routes in the city. There is a mini private bus service operating in the suburban area of Chennai. Besides, there is Chennai suburban railway network, which has four broad gauge rail sectors, connecting the suburbs with the city.
General Information about Chennai:
Location: Chennai
State: Tamil Nadu
Capital: Chennai
Language: Tamil, Hindi, English
Temperature: Max 40˚C, Min 27˚C (summer), Max 29˚C, Min 20˚C (winter)
Best Season: November to March
How to Reach Chennai:
By Air:
Chennai has an international airport which is located at a distance of 7 km from the main city. The airport caters to al the domestic and international passengers coming to the city. There are a number of domestic flights to and from Chennai which connects it to all the major cities within the country. Besides, there are host of international airlines which operate from the international terminal and link it with the important world cities with the city.
By Train:
Primarily, Chennai has two railway stations, Chennai Central and Egmore Station. Chennai Central is the bigger one of the two and runs on broad gauge, connecting with all the major cities and towns of India such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Lucknow, Guwahati . The Egmore Station houses a number of meter gauge and broad gauge trains, which originate from here and ply to different destinations within the state as well as to the neighbouring states. Chennai Central links North and West India, while Egmore links South India.
By Road:
Chennai is also well connected via road. It is linked with all the important places in Tamil Nadu as well as India with the help of a good network of roads. There are even government bus services which operate within Tamil Nadu and other states. These buses operate from Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, Koyembedu. It is considered to be the largest bus station in entire Asia.
By Sea:
A cruise is one of the most adventurous ways of getting to Madras. A passenger service connects Chennai with Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.