Commuters will soon be able to browse while waiting for trains at metro stations as Chennai Metro Rail is planning to introduce free Wi-Fi at its stations. Metro rail will launch the facility in elevated stations before the first quarter of 2017.
A metro rail official said they are in the process of finding a firm that can provide high speed wireless internet in all the stations on the elevated corridor. The aim is to introduce the facility before the city gets its first underground stretch between Koyambedu and Nehru Park, which is scheduled to be commissioned by the first quarter of 2017. It is not clear whether trains will also have Wi-Fi connectivity. Sources said it could be connected once signals are there at the stations.
"We are not going to wait for the underground stretch and Phase-I to get operational to introduce net connectivity for commuters. As elevated line is already operational with 13 stations, we are looking for an agency that can provide the service," the official said.
Internet connectivity is essential for metro rail because it is hoping to attract car and two-wheeler users to public transport. Facilities such as Wi-Fi and clean stations are expected to boost metro rail's image as a convenient and comfortable mode of transport. The service will be extended to all other stations later.
New Delhi was the first city to provide high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity for its metro rail passengers. Earlier this year, Delhi Metro Rail tied up with two companies to provide the facility in all its corridors. It also signed an agreement with RailTel, a company under the railways ministry, to provide Wi-Fi in five stations.
In June this year, Kolkata metro expanded its free WiFi from two metro stations to 17 stations from Tollygunj to Dum Dum, and promised to provide internet connectivity within the underground tunnels as well.
The reliability of these services is often questionable but the services are an effort to provide comfortable travel to passengers.
A metro rail official said they are in the process of finding a firm that can provide high speed wireless internet in all the stations on the elevated corridor. The aim is to introduce the facility before the city gets its first underground stretch between Koyambedu and Nehru Park, which is scheduled to be commissioned by the first quarter of 2017. It is not clear whether trains will also have Wi-Fi connectivity. Sources said it could be connected once signals are there at the stations.
"We are not going to wait for the underground stretch and Phase-I to get operational to introduce net connectivity for commuters. As elevated line is already operational with 13 stations, we are looking for an agency that can provide the service," the official said.
Internet connectivity is essential for metro rail because it is hoping to attract car and two-wheeler users to public transport. Facilities such as Wi-Fi and clean stations are expected to boost metro rail's image as a convenient and comfortable mode of transport. The service will be extended to all other stations later.
New Delhi was the first city to provide high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity for its metro rail passengers. Earlier this year, Delhi Metro Rail tied up with two companies to provide the facility in all its corridors. It also signed an agreement with RailTel, a company under the railways ministry, to provide Wi-Fi in five stations.
In June this year, Kolkata metro expanded its free WiFi from two metro stations to 17 stations from Tollygunj to Dum Dum, and promised to provide internet connectivity within the underground tunnels as well.
The reliability of these services is often questionable but the services are an effort to provide comfortable travel to passengers.