IAF Air Show Chaos: Metro Passengers Face Overwhelming Crowds

Sunday's IAF air show in Chennai drew massive crowds, pushing the Metro Rail system to its limits as thousands opted to avoid road congestion. Unfortunately, they encountered a different kind of chaos as Metro stations became inundated with visitors.

The Government Estate Metro station, in particular, saw staggering levels of crowding, making it nearly impossible for commuters to navigate the space. As the aerial spectacle attracted lakhs of spectators, stations like Thirumangalam, Chennai Central, Chennai Airport, and Koyambedu were also packed to capacity.

Jayanthi Mala, a Nandambakkam resident who traveled from Alandur to Government Estate, expressed frustration over the inadequate number of entry points. "The Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) gates were far too slow to manage the surge in passengers," she noted. "We need more gates for events of this scale."

As crowding worsened by 11 a.m., authorities opted to allow token holders to enter through staff gates to ease the congestion. By noon, all AFC gates were opened, allowing more people to board trains. Staff managed ticketing manually at the exit stations, providing a makeshift solution to the overwhelming demand.

To combat the chaos, Chennai Metro Rail Limited increased service frequency to every 3.5 minutes between Washermenpet and AG-DMS, and every seven minutes from Chennai Airport to Wimco Nagar starting at 2 p.m.

After the air show concluded, attendees flooded from Marina Beach to Government Estate, compounding the already congested station. Gunasekar, who traveled from Vandalur for the event, highlighted the need for more staff on-site. “I couldn’t even get a ticket due to poor network coverage inside the station, forcing me to exit to book online,” he lamented.

First-time travelers faced confusion navigating the ticketing process and station protocols. Many families, exhausted from the ordeal, sat on the ground waiting for the crowd to thin out before attempting to board a train. The station remained crowded well into the evening, reflecting the challenges faced during such large-scale events.

4o mini