Chennai-One App Guide: Your All-in-One Transport Solution for the City
A complete 2025 guide to the Chennai-One app — your one-stop solution for metro tickets, MTC buses, recharges, and city services.
By Amandeep Singh
Founder, CancelMates. Helping Indians save time and money on payments.
For years, commuting in Chennai meant navigating a maze of different apps, tickets, and queues for the Metro, MTC buses, and suburban trains. It was a daily frustration for millions.
That era is over. On September 22, 2025, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin officially launched the 'Chennai One' app. Managed by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), it is India's first truly integrated public transport app, designed to be your single solution for all travel needs. This is the ultimate guide on how to use it to transform your daily commute.
Pro-Tip: Use It as a Journey Planner, Not Just a Ticket App
The app's most powerful feature is its intelligent journey planning. Enter your start and end point anywhere in the city, and it will show you the most efficient combination of metro, bus, and suburban trains to get there, all bookable with one payment.
What You Can Do with the Chennai-One App
| Feature | Details | Why It's a Game-Changer |
|---|---|---|
| 🌐 Unified Journey Planner | Suggests routes combining Metro, Bus & Suburban Trains. | One search for your entire door-to-door trip. |
| 🎫 Single QR Ticket | One QR code for all modes of transport in your journey. | No more juggling multiple tickets or tokens. |
| ⏱️ Real-Time Updates | Access live schedules and notifications. | Avoid long waits and travel smarter. |
| 🏙️ Smart City Services | Pay property tax, water charges, and more. | A single app for both travel and city needs. |
Table of Contents
1. How to Plan a Multi-Modal Journey
This is the core feature of the Chennai-One app. Here's how to plan your entire trip across the city in one go.
- Open the app and select the 'Journey Planner' option.
- Enter your starting point and final destination.
- The app will display the best routes, combining Metro, MTC Buses, and Suburban Trains.
- Select your preferred route, and you can book a single, unified QR ticket for the entire trip.
- Pay with UPI or your preferred digital method.
2. How to Buy a Ticket for a Specific Service
If you just need a ticket for a single mode of transport, the process is even faster.
- For Metro: Tap ‘Metro’, select your start and end stations, choose your ticket type (single/return), and pay to generate your QR code.
- For MTC Buses: Tap ‘Bus Services’, select your route or pass type, and pay to get your digital ticket or recharge your pass.
- For Suburban Trains: Tap 'Suburban', enter your journey details, and pay to receive your e-ticket.
3. How to Use the Smart City Features
Beyond transport, the app integrates essential civic services, making it a true "super app" for Chennai residents.
- Navigate to the 'Civic Services' or 'Bill Pay' section.
- Select the service you need, such as 'Property Tax' or 'Water Charges'.
- Enter your consumer number or details and pay your bills directly within the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Chennai-One the official government app?
A: Yes. It was officially launched by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and is managed by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), making it the definitive, official app for the city's transport.
Q: Does the app really cover Metro, Buses, AND Suburban Trains?
A: Yes. It is India's first integrated public transport ticketing app designed to unify all three major modes of transport in Chennai under a single QR ticket system.
Q: Is the app available in Tamil?
A: Yes, the app offers multilingual support, including Tamil and English, to cater to all residents of Chennai.
