CHENNAI: Four years after the Bill was passed in the Assembly, the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority Act (CUMTA Act) is yet to be notified. Official sources told
Express that CUMTA Act, which was to frame an urban transport policy for the Chennai Metropolitan Area on the lines of National Urban Transport Policy, received the assent of the Governor in November 2010, and was published in the Tamil Nadu Gazette Extraordinary on December 2, 2010.
But the date of effect of the CUMTA Act is yet to be notified by the government, the sources said. It is learnt that it could result in delays of integration of all public mass passenger transport modes by means of various measures including routing, scheduling, operating feeder services and combined or common ticketing to facilitate seamless commuting options to the public.
Currently, the government has 10 different agencies, involved in traffic and transportation management in Chennai Metropolitan area.
Sources said since many agencies are involved in planning, providing operations and managing transportation system in the CMA, the role of such agencies overlap, resulting in the need for a unified agency for proper coordination and streamlining of the activities among various agencies. The law department has vetted the recommendations of the 3rd meeting of CUMTA Rule Making Committee which was held on December 19, 2013. The deliberations dwelt on appointment of a chief executive officer and making the CEO as the member secretary of CUMTA.
It also suggested that the chief urban planner of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority be made member convenor of CUMTA by amending CUMTA Act suitably.
But the issue is CMDA does not have a planner who has expertise in transport after the retirement of chief planner K Kumar. Sources said there were a couple of planners, who studied transport planning using CMDA funds but they are being underutilized.
Delayed ACT
Here’s is look at the history of CUMTA
1994: TN plans establishment of Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority
Nov 2010: CUMTA receives Governor’s assent
Dec 2010: Published in TN Gazette Extraordinary
Feb 2012: First meeting held under Transport Minister
July 2012: First Executive Committee Meeting held
Dec 2013: CUMTA rule making committee holds third meeting