Madurai’s auto boom fills gaps in public transport

Madurai: Madurai’s roads are witnessing a shift in commuting patterns, with an autorickshaw boom visible at almost every junction. The city is now adding more than eight autorickshaws a day, compared to four a day in 2024.According to official data, new autorickshaw registrations increased from about 1,400 in 2024 to nearly 2,500 in 2025, a rise of 71%. The growth rate is far higher than the single-digit increase recorded in Chennai.This year, registrations have already crossed 1,200 at the city’s three regional transport offices. Most of these vehicles operate as share-autos on routes linking transit hubs such as Madurai Railway Junction, Periyar bus stand and Aarapalayam.Experts attribute the boom to two factors. The first is the city’s public transport gap. Unlike Chennai, which has a suburban rail network and a growing metro system, Madurai depends almost entirely on buses for intra-city travel. Even Coimbatore has private buses operating alongside govt services. In Madurai, however, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses remain the primary mode of public transport.Despite growing travel demand, TNSTC’s fleet strength has remained largely unchanged. The number of city bus services has hovered around 1,250 for nearly a decade and has not kept pace with the city’s expanding limits or population, which is estimated at around 20 lakh, said public transport enthusiast G Rajakumaran.“The Union govt returned the metro rail proposal and Southern Railway does not operate dedicated MEMU services within the city. This has created a gap, and share-autos have stepped in to fill it,” he said.The second reason is cost and convenience. A trip of 3km to 5km costs around Rs 20 in a share-auto. While govt buses are cheaper, their services are limited and they stop only at designated bus stops. Share-autos, on the other hand, allow passengers to board and alight closer to their homes, workplaces and shops. Drivers also stop at locations requested by passengers.Transportation experts say share-autos can continue as a paratransit service, but unchecked growth could weaken public transport. “In Chennai, Metropolitan Transport Corporation has been asking the govt to keep share-autos away from routes adequately served by buses and deploy them on routes requiring last-mile connectivity. TNSTC Madurai should pursue a similar approach with local authorities,” said transportation expert S Kamal.