If one wants to experience the gap between the transport facilities in the north and south of the city, a train ride is enough to enlighten one. Commuters in north Chennai, despite having the advantages of train facilitie,s have far fewer services.
For any commuter in south Chennai, who has enjoyed train services that are operated with a maximum time gap of 20 minutes during non-peak hours, it would be an excruciating wait of nearly an hour for a train to Gummidipoondi.
K. Swamiraj, a resident of Puzhuthivakkam, knows how blessed residents of south Chennai are when it comes to any infrastructure facilities, leave alone transport. Poor train services to Gummidipoondi forced Mr. Swamiraj — who runs an industrial unit there — to commute by two-wheeler from Chennai Beach.
Sometimes, more than the wait for the train, the ride itself becomes more demanding because of the slow services, with goods train services take precedence over the suburban ones, leading to longer rides. Also, the ride through the heavily industrialised route could easily sap one’s energy, says Mr. Swamiraj, pointing out that the industrial pollution exacerbates the harsh weather conditions.
The Southern Railway’s proposal to have a dedicated line hangs fire because of delays in land acquisition between Korukkupet and Ennore. A few years ago, there was also a proposal to operate 12-car coaches, but that did not take off due to the reduced width of the platform.
How to ease congestion around schools, especially, where there is a cluster of them whose timings clash? Chances are, you might find yourself in a bottle neck on this one.
From encouraging the concept of neighbourhood schooling, to having staggered timings, carpooling and cycling, the discussion throws up several options. Schools, too, are finding ways to ease traffic.
Br. I. Johnson Rex Dhanabal, principal of St. Michael's Academy Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Adyar, said that with parents increasingly dropping their children in cars, they were encouraging carpooling among parents.
“In the recent Parent Teacher Association meeting, many parents agreed to carpool. PTA members and two traffic personnel also help manage the traffic in the morning,” he said, adding that they admit students who live within a three-kilometre radius from the school to reduce travel.
At Don Bosco Matriculation, Egmore, they are encouraging students to hop on to the school bus, and have increased their fleet of vehicles. John Alexander, rector and correspondent of the school, said they will be taking students who have opted to travel on the school bus on a half-a-day trip this year.
“Three years back, only around 40 students opted for the school bus, now the number is close to 350. It would be ideal if at least 50 per cent of the students opt for the school van,” he said. The stretch on which the school is located also becomes a one-way for a brief period in the mornings and afternoons.
Though they would like to encourage cycling, they were a little hesitant owing to concerns about safety on roads as there are no separate bicycle lanes, he said.
(Reporting by R. Srikanth and Asha Sridhar)
