Residents of Velachery, Nanganallur, Ullagaram and Puzhuthivakkam have requested the Southern Railway to open reservation counters for long-distance trains at Velachery Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) station.
At present, residents go to the computerised passenger reservation centres at the West Tambaram or Tirusulam railway station for booking tickets for express trains. A few residents from these areas even go to the Thiruvanmiyur MRTS station.
“The reservation counters at other stations function only between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sundays. So, it is difficult for residents to go to these stations before 2 p.m.
If these counters are kept open during the second shift (from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.) on Sundays, a number of residents, especially senior citizens and women, would be benefited,” says S. Vijayaraghavan, a resident of Velachery. “Also, the premises of the Velachery MRTS station has ample space for parking vehicles and opening counters at the entrance block,” he adds.
If opened, the counters would facilitate booking or cancellation of tickets for long-distance trains.
“Separate counters should be created for booking and cancellation of tickets. Besides the regular counters, the reservation centre should have exclusive counters for Tatkal reservation,” says V. Rama Rao, social activist and a resident of Nanganallur.
Residents say the Southern Railway should open reservation counters at all the stations.
“During festive season, more counters should be opened at Velachery MRTS station. Every year, it’s a maddening rush at the booking counters across the city, so opening a new reservation centre at Velachery MRTS and a few other stations would be a great help,” says T. Vishwanathan, a resident of NGO Colony, Adambakkam.
