Chennai Metro: 93.28 lakhs passengers recorded to have travelled in January, 2026

CMRL has always endeavored to provide the people of Chennai a safe, efficient and reliable travel partner. A total of 93,28,937 passengers have travelled in the Metro Trains from 01.01.2026 to 31.01.2026.

Total passengers:
93,28,937 (≈ 9.33 million)

Highest single-day ridership:
3,81,476 on January 9, 2026

Average daily ridership:
3,01,000 passengers/day

Ticketing Services Usage (January 2026)
1. NCMC Singara Chennai Card - 46,52,834
2. CMRL Travel Card - 43,107
3. Single Journey Paper QR / Token - 19,60,685
4. Static QR – Stations - 2,27,737
5. Online QR - 1,26,665
6. WhatsApp (+91-8300086000) - 4,55,401
7. Paytm - 3,35,852
8. ONDC - 10,38,782
9. PhonePe - 2,76,216
10. CMRL Mobile App - 60,240
11. Chennai One App - 1,43,620
12. Event QR - 7,798
Total — 93,28,937

Key Highlights
- Digital adoption is strong: Over 23 lakh passengers used online QR-based ticketing (WhatsApp, Paytm, ONDC, PhonePe, apps).
- NCMC Singara Chennai Card dominates, accounting for ~50% of total ridership.
- Paper QR/Token still significant, with nearly 20 lakh passengers preferring traditional counters.
- Discount strategy: 20% off on NCMC Card and digital QR tickets (WhatsApp, Paytm, PhonePe, CMRL App), encouraging cashless travel.

This shows CMRL’s push toward digital ticketing and smart cards is paying off, while still balancing traditional paper tokens for accessibility.