Transport

Chennai has a fairly large and extensive public transport which is efficient but can get very crowded. The bus services are run by the government-owned Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC). The suburban railway system has three arms via which the suburbs of Tambaram, Avadi and Ennore are connected. The Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is still under construction. The major suburban stations in the city are Chennai Central and Chennai Beach stations.
The various sections of the suburban railway are

• Chennai Central to Avadi (going further to Arakkonam)
• Chennai Central to Ennore (going further to Gummidipoondi)
• Chennai Beach to Tambaram (going further to Chengalpattu)

Trains also run between Chennai Beach and Avadi/Ennore. MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System) presently operates between Chennai Beach and Tiruvanmiyur.

Private call taxis are available in Chennai but can be unreliable. Auto rickshaws are extremely popular in Chennai but they are famous for fleecing people. They are particularly greedy when it comes to outsiders or tourists in the city. As a tourist it is best avoiding these "autos", as they are called. Cars can be rented at a fixed price and are certainly more reliable and safer.

Chennai is well connected to all the major cities in the country by the Indian Railways. Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore are the two main railway stations. Chennai Egmore is almost exclusively used for trains bound to the southern parts of the state. The city is also well served by the Chennai International Airport. Recently the Central Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) was opened in Koyambedu in Chennai. This is the largest bus terminus in South Asia and serves as the bus terminus for all outstation buses to and from Chennai.