Bengaluru to Chennai move
Moving to a city like Chennai (erstwhile Madras - as I cant take that out of head), having been born and brought up in Bangalore (Bengaluru) was a big change. While it was different in a lot of ways, this post deals mainly with public transport.
With no more school runs due to the children being away for higher studies, I decided not to buy a car immediately and instead, explore Chennai via public transport and ride-sharing for a few months. This allowed me to travel the length and breadth of the larger city using ride-aggregator apps, auto-rickshaws, buses, the metro, and occasionally, suburban trains. I used it as an opportunity to experience the local culture and practice speaking Tamil.
As for plain old walking, it is not practical except as exercise, due to the on-going construction work on several roads and also great distances in this large city. Walking is good in one of the many beaches of Chennai, though I am partial to the ones in the southern part of the city.
The metro is very convenient, especially for airport trips without luggage, though getting to/from metro stations smoothly is a challenge. Cabs are absolutely necessary for airport trips with luggage. The spotless maintenance of the trains and metro stations is impressive.
Auto-rickshaw fares require negotiation, but the rides offer insights into the city's pulse. Cabs do that too, though ‘cash paymenta saar’ is an oft-repeated opening line as the fares are fixed while booking. If it is not cash, more likely than not, the driver cancels right away. If one does manage to get into one, and has the time to allow the conversation, one gets to learn about the drivers' opinions on the news of the day, government and politicians, expressed freely and fluently in the local language.
Buses are more challenging to use, with crowding and poor maintenance offsetting their practicality. An app or two show the bus timings but don't always work reliably. Suburban trains are useful for long-distance commuters living along the lines. But the put off is the poor maintenance of the train stations. It is a mystery to me as to why this mode of transport is not organized and maintained better for widespread use.
I can't claim to be a true Chennaiite yet, but my Tamil has definitely improved from day one, despite occasional misunderstandings and confusion. Even after eventually getting back to owning a car, I still use public transit occasionally. It certainly is greener than electric cars. I have realized that the key to timely transportation around the city is to embrace a multi-modal approach. It helps to venture out in the general direction of travel and pick the best available option at that hour, rather than fixating on specific modes/routes.
Over several months, I gained a glimpse into Chennai's culture and some of Tamil Nadu too. Persisting with Tamil, despite my limited proficiency, helped me understand what drives the local politics, food, entertainment, etc. Language immersion is invaluable for truly learning about a place.
Public transit has so many aspects, joys and downsides. But I think, citizens, including those who own private vehicles, should encourage it in large numbers, through regular usage and feedback.
With no more school runs due to the children being away for higher studies, I decided not to buy a car immediately and instead, explore Chennai via public transport and ride-sharing for a few months. This allowed me to travel the length and breadth of the larger city using ride-aggregator apps, auto-rickshaws, buses, the metro, and occasionally, suburban trains. I used it as an opportunity to experience the local culture and practice speaking Tamil.
As for plain old walking, it is not practical except as exercise, due to the on-going construction work on several roads and also great distances in this large city. Walking is good in one of the many beaches of Chennai, though I am partial to the ones in the southern part of the city.
The metro is very convenient, especially for airport trips without luggage, though getting to/from metro stations smoothly is a challenge. Cabs are absolutely necessary for airport trips with luggage. The spotless maintenance of the trains and metro stations is impressive.
Auto-rickshaw fares require negotiation, but the rides offer insights into the city's pulse. Cabs do that too, though ‘cash paymenta saar’ is an oft-repeated opening line as the fares are fixed while booking. If it is not cash, more likely than not, the driver cancels right away. If one does manage to get into one, and has the time to allow the conversation, one gets to learn about the drivers' opinions on the news of the day, government and politicians, expressed freely and fluently in the local language.
Buses are more challenging to use, with crowding and poor maintenance offsetting their practicality. An app or two show the bus timings but don't always work reliably. Suburban trains are useful for long-distance commuters living along the lines. But the put off is the poor maintenance of the train stations. It is a mystery to me as to why this mode of transport is not organized and maintained better for widespread use.
I can't claim to be a true Chennaiite yet, but my Tamil has definitely improved from day one, despite occasional misunderstandings and confusion. Even after eventually getting back to owning a car, I still use public transit occasionally. It certainly is greener than electric cars. I have realized that the key to timely transportation around the city is to embrace a multi-modal approach. It helps to venture out in the general direction of travel and pick the best available option at that hour, rather than fixating on specific modes/routes.
Over several months, I gained a glimpse into Chennai's culture and some of Tamil Nadu too. Persisting with Tamil, despite my limited proficiency, helped me understand what drives the local politics, food, entertainment, etc. Language immersion is invaluable for truly learning about a place.
Public transit has so many aspects, joys and downsides. But I think, citizens, including those who own private vehicles, should encourage it in large numbers, through regular usage and feedback.
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