The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : MRTS getting popular, yet it has miles to go City pulse

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Monday, Nov 10, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

MRTS getting popular, yet it has miles to go City pulse

R. Srikanth

“The pace of development of passenger amenities at the stations must be better”

— Photo: M. Karunakaran

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.

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