Martin
F.R., Sub-Editor
New Rail tracks laid begins its operations as train’s starts
arriving at platform 15 and 16 in Chennai suburban station.
Chennai Central: The increase in frequency of trains from far
flung Arrakonam to Chennai central route due to felling of extra two lane track
has eased out the otherwise heavily crowded situation daily commuter’s face
while travelling such a long distance for work since June 17th.
Overcrowded, infrequent trains have always been a
problem but it's no longer an issue for commuters especially the working class
and the student community that has been travelling through this route since so
many years.
Earlier the situation the ruckus created for catching
a seat in trains used to be big battle for those who did not preferred standing
in coaches and desperately wanted that one seat as if it was the issue of life
or death. Sometimes situation used to get so kinkier such that, fights quarrels
and heated arguments easily gets propped up, sometimes when the lights gets
switched off ,who gets slapped, hit, pressed by whom know body knows. Such is
situation of female compartments which feels colourful shops of sarees and
salwar kameez as to be able see faces in the midst of heavy crowd is a miracle
only. Some even get their house shifted by shifting their household items
through suburb rails for free in such a tight situation, some even try to do
push-ups amid the crowd by pulling the support rod just to get sense of breathing at last.
Here comes this popcorn, samosa & chole seller,
who gets smashed by the entire world's deadliest abuses heralded by the
commuters as they create unwanted unease for them. And God Knows how some
people get space to watch reality shows amidst the crowd. And at the end comes
our super lawbreakers and Olympic runners, the latter who thinks to be very
clever and occupies a seat in first class, not knowing some ticket collector is
seated next to him in civil dress waiting to snatch him in next station and
these Olympic runners who run from far away with timer on as train starts departing to check whether
their stamina has improved compared to the
previous day and some even show some leg juggling by frequently falling
off the train and then jump inside train
from the platform, trying to impress who god only knows.
Frequent movement of trains eases out crowded situation
during peak office hours in Chennai suburban station. Photo credit-Martin F.R.
This description is something that is the reality of
the suburb trains that used to move through central suburban station. These
trains cater to vast community from Gummudipundi, Thiruvanam, Arrakonam; Avadi
etc.Many trains that departed and arrived at basin bridge station now will
start and reach till main suburban station which has reduced travelling time of
commuters these routes as they had board two trains unnecessarily. The
punctuality of trains arriving on time is also something the new lines have
boosted .The punctual running of the suburban train services on the western
section has seen a jump of 10 per cent in the last three months after the
commissioning of the 5th and 6th lines between the Chennai Central Moore Market
complex and Basin Bridge. The punctuality level which stood at 80 per cent all
these years has increased to 90.6 per cent after the commissioning of these
lines.
Division Railway Manager Anupam Sharma said that the
completion of these lines in a record three years and the construction of
additional platforms at the Moore market complex had speeded up the suburban
trains, thereby bringing a relief to the commuters during peak hours. Earlier,
these trains used to halt at the Basin Bridge station for several minutes.
Mr. Anikhet Rohilla , Technical Division Head
says," The execution of the fourth line between Tiruvallur and
Tiruvalangadu stretching for 17 kilometres had helped in removing the conflict
between the express and the suburban/fast trains leading to smooth operations
of freight movement and speeding up train services until Arakkonam."
Southern Railway has also executed several works on
the passenger amenities front. These include providing double discharge
facility, extension of platforms for accommodating 12-car rakes from Chennai
Central to Arakkonam and installing of new toilet blocks at 15 stations and
constructing pay and use toilet facility in more than 12 stations in the
route.Sneha Padmavel says the situation is far better as we don't have to wait
for much time as trains arrive frequently than earlier it used to be, and the
crowd is still there but its little more balanced now ".
Ajit Khemkar, Apple Juice Seller," At least now i
will be fortunate to see people in train not train in people, my garbage bin is
now safe as nobody pushes it down, as the crowd much more balanced now.Also, my
customers have increased as trains come frequently and people not in hurry, so
they have a drink of himachal apple juice.
The Plight of commuters seems far more than improved
now as lanes have improved the time bound less crowded connectivity making
their journey quite little peaceful than earlier it used to be like pushing,
pulling etc.Thanks to the Southern Railways that ensured that the extra lane
work gets completed on time and provided a sigh of relief for them.
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