The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : New helpline a boon for train passengers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

New helpline a boon for train passengers

L. Srikrishna

It is available on over 65 express trains and EMU services

The helpline number is 9962 500 500
It enables police to reach complainants swiftly

CHENNAI: A 47-year-old man travelling from Madurai to Chennai by the Nellai Express suddenly complained of acute chest pain on Monday night when the train crossed the Tiruchi junction.

A co-passenger immediately dialled 9962 500 500 – the helpline available at the police control room here.

The team there informed police personnel on duty on the train and simultaneously conveyed the emergency to the Railway duty doctor.

When the train reached the next station, the patient was attended to after which he travelled without any problem.

The Government Railway Police (GRP), along with the Southern Railway and Vodafone, started a new facility in December 2007 keeping in mind the need to reach out to the passengers who face problems while travelling.

In EMU services too

The facility, which was inaugurated by the Director-General of Police P.Rajendran, is available on over 65 express trains and EMU services in the metropolis.

Inspector-General of Police (Railways) K.C.Mahali told The Hindu on Tuesday that in the last one month, GRP personnel received over 80 complaints via the helpline.

While 33 calls were related to wordy altercation between passengers, 14 sought medical assistance and 16 calls were related to offences such as bag-lifting or chain-snatching.

The police recently arrested a youth on eve-teasing charges based on a complaint from a lone woman passenger, even before the train reached the next station.

“The helpline enabled the police to reach complainants swiftly,” Mr. Mahali said.

Railway Superintendent of Police M.C. Sarangan said following a complaint from a passenger bound for Coimbatore that two passengers, who were drunk, were involved in a wordy altercation, they were picked up.

He recalled the timely intervention of the doctor at the Chengalpattu junction recently, after a woman passenger fell ill.

By the time the train reached the station, the police had not only alerted the doctor, but also took the patient to a nearby hospital in an ambulance.

With technology coming in handy, the police are able to reach the needy during times of emergencies and also nab the accused on trains, Mr. Mahali added.

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