MRTS getting popular, yet it has miles to go

[Indian Railway News]

://www.hindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111155170600.htm

"The pace of development of passenger amenities must be better"

CHUGGING ALONG: A crowd of commuters throngs the Velachery MRTS
station.

CHENNAI: Within a year after it was extended to Velachery, the Mass
Rapid Transit System (MRTS) has emerged as one of the key modes of
public transport in the city. Though there is considerable scope for
improvement on different fronts, the 20-km service from Chennai
Beach to Velachery has been patronised by commuters like no other
mode.

Statistics show that on an average, 66,518 people use MRTS services
every day. Southern Railway authorities add the number is on the
rise steadily.

Largely dependable, faster and covering some of the important
commercial and residential areas of the city, the MRTS has come as a
boon, particularly to those living in the fast developing localities
of south Chennai such as Velachery, Madipakkam, Pallikaranai,
Thoraipakkam and neighbourhood.

Many commuters, however, feel that the pace of development of
passenger amenities and commercial exploitation of the space at the
stations ought to be better when seen in the backdrop of the pace at
which patronage has risen after the extension of the MRTS from
Thirumailai.

They complain of numerous problems, particularly with regard to the
access to the stations, safety around the facilities and most
important the frequency of services during lean hours and in late
evening.

P.V.Krishnan, a resident of Velachery who commutes regularly by the
MRTS, wanted only nine-car rakes to be operated during rush hour. "I
am unable to use the first-class season ticket in the crowded six-
car rakes as there are no first class compartments," he said.

Absence of refreshment stalls at any of the stations is another
grievance of the commuters. They also suspect the quality of the
drinking water facility made available at the stations. R.Krishna
Prabhu, a resident of Baby Nagar in Velachery, said reaching the
Perungudi station is an uphill task as the Park Avenue Road leading
to it was in a bad shape and turns unusable during rains.

While some of the commuters do not mind these shortfalls, what is of
immense concern to them is the lack of safety at the facilities.
Women in particular find it unsafe to walk on the roads leading to
most of the stations as the illumination is poor. Mr.Prabhu called
for better lighting on the corridor and steps of the Perungudi,
Thiruvanmiyur, Mandaveli and Chindatripet stations.

A large number of commuters, particularly senior citizens, rued
about lifts and escalators at a number of the stations remaining
inoperative. K.Manoharan, a commuter residing in Kotturpuram, said
lifts and escalators were an integral part of elevated systems such
as MRTS.

Refuting this, Southern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Neenu
Ittyerah said except at Indira Nagar and Kasturba Nagar Stations,
where lifts are being installed, escalators and lifts at all other
stations are functioning properly. She said a road running parallel
to the track between Velachery and Taramani stations has been
proposed.

She said Southern Railway conducts coordination meetings with the
Highways Department and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority
to sort out various issues. Chennai Corporation has also proposed to
widen the approach road to the Triplicane Station.

Work is also under way to extend the services from Velachery to St.
Thomas Mount station, a project which would link MRTS with the
Chennai Beach-Tambaram section. As the popularity of the MRTS soars,
commuters using EMU services to north and western suburbs feel
neglected.

V. Yohannan, a resident of Villivakkam employed in a public sector
bank on Rajaji Salai, said hundreds of people from Arakkonam and
Tiruvallur who come to work in south Chennai want more suburban
services from their localities to Chennai Beach station. Many of the
services are up to Moore Market Complex.

Confirming the problems persisting for commuters using the western
sector, Ms. Ittyerah said additional platforms were being
constructed at Chennai Beach and coaches would be purchased for
increasing train services.