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Delay in launch of Tiruvanmiyur-Velachery MRTS service

Staff Reporter

Rain disrupted work in a small part of track

PLATINUM JUBILEE: Union Minister of State for Railways R.Velu at the EMU car shed in Tambaram, on Saturday. Thomas Varghese, Southern Railway General Manager (left), is also in the picture. — Photo : A. Muralitharan

TAMBARAM: The inauguration of the Mass Rapid Transit System services between Tiruvanmiyur and Velachery will be delayed by one-and-a-half months.

Participating in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) Car Shed here on Friday, Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said the MRTS services till Velachery were to be extended by the year-end, but the recent heavy rain delayed the work in a small part of the track, though installation of the girders was complete.

It was expected to be completed by March-end and services would start between Velachery and St. Thomas Mount.

Lauding the employees, he said the facility was among the best in the country.

Cash award

He announced a cash award of Rs.5 lakh for them. While 60 lakh commuters travelled in the suburban EMU trains in Mumbai, five lakh travelled in Chennai, he said. There were plans to increase the figure to 7.5 lakh, which could be achieved if commuters entered and alighted from trains faster.

More rakes

At present, 24 rakes were operated daily between Tambaram and Chennai Beach. The administration planned to increase them to 30. Further, they would have 12 cars instead of the present nine. The EMU Car Shed, established in 1931, had adequate facilities to maintain 12-coach rakes, Mr. Velu said.

Thomas Varghese, General Manager, Southern Railway, said the number of staff in charge of maintenance at the Car Shed was six per car compared to seven per car in similar facilities of the Indian Railway elsewhere.

Man Singh, Divisional Railway Manager, Chennai, and I. Srirama, Chief Electrical Engineer, were among other officials who spoke.

Mr. Velu felicitated 20 serving and former employees of the Car Shed.

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