Chennai, India (city traffic news): Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has appointed Transport for London (TfL), the local government body responsible for most of London’s transport network, to develop a comprehensive mobility plan, integrated ticketing and digital payment solutions for Chennai. CUMTA plans to introduce a contactless card modeled on the Oyster card used to pay for public transport in London.
“TFL will help come up with a comprehensive mobility plan, integrated ticketing and a digital Chennai where all the plans of agencies operating in the mobility sector would be brought together. We are looking at various options,” said I Jaykumar, Special Officer, CUMTA.
“CUMTA is working towards an open-loop card that will be a co-designed card with any banking partner. It can be used as a debit card. CUMTA is also awaiting approval from the Railway Board. “Indian Railways has to take a political decision as it is a financial and technical data exchange,” he added.
A TfL team visited Chennai last week and CUMTA shared with them all the details regarding the appointment of TfL as a transaction advisor. “Once they give us the proposals, we will publish the tender next week,” he said.
As for the partnership with TfL, Jayakumar said that TFL would provide input for the first three months to fine-tune the CMP tender. They will then spend the next 18 to 24 months helping to prepare a revised comprehensive mobility plan. In addition, it will also help in setting up a Chennai digital platform where all stakeholders’ data and plans will be stored.
CUMTA will be responsible for coordinating and streamlining the implementation of CMP proposals through city agencies. It is therefore essential that the recommendations of the CMP are well thought out and consulted with various stakeholders, including the people of Chennai. The CMP must also include a review of climate change adaptation requirements for the system to operate effectively.