There seem to be no end to the problems faced by Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) commuters.
Recently, a board was put up in front of the Thiruvanmiyur MRTS station restricting commuters from using the parking lot.
Since most MRTS stations are not close to residential areas, several commuters use motorcycles to get to the station, which they then park in the lots and take a train to reach their workplace. For working professionals, this also saves them the hassle of negotiating chaotic traffic.
A parking lot attendant at the station said the space had been allotted to commercial establishments and had been cordoned off as per instructions. “They are not allowing bikes to park here anymore. There is so much space but apparently it is only meant for advertisement hoardings,” said a commuter from Taramani.
Many commuters, who board trains from stations on the IT corridor, have offices on Rajiv Gandhi Salai and the parking lots are a boon for them.
“I come from Guindy and park my bike at the Thiruvanmiyur station. Now that they have abolished parking here, I’m not sure what to do,” said a worried commuter.
Stations along the same stretch such as Kasturibai Nagar, still have water-logged basementsT leaves commuters with hardly any safe locations to park their vehicles in.
“In most other station, window panes of vehicles are often found damaged. Thiruvanmiyur is the only station which has a security guard all the time, said T. Ganesh, who used to use the parking facilities at this station every day until recently.
“Such measures will only discourage us from using public transport,” said Anand Kannan, a management executive with a firm here.
The 25-km MRTS corridor transports less than 25 per cent of its projected passenger capacity. Railway officials said there had been a change in the contractor for maintenance of the stations and that the problem would be sorted out very soon.
