Last week, train commuters who regularly park their vehicles at the Velachery MRTS station did a double take. Vehicles could be parked on the southern side of the station. Since the station saw the light of day, vehicles were being parked only on the northern side. And hence, the raised eyebrows.
This new development comes on the heels of the appointment of a new contractor, which had been hanging fire for three months. The problem has however not been resolved in a manner commuters would have wanted it to be. For, the new contractor can regulate the parking section on the southern side; and the one on the northern side continues without a contractor.
On the positive side, creating a new parking space manifests an effort by the Southern Railway to reconfigure the station with a marked focus on the southern section.
The new parking space is cemented, has a ramp and a small lane for motorcyclists to pick and drop passengers. However, this parking area is not as expansive as the one on the northern side.
Commuters’ response to this initiative by Southern Railway has been largely positive; however, they have said that development of the southern section should not be at the cost of the northern.
Opening up the southern side to parking will benefit commuters coming from Pallikaranai, Madipakkam and areas beyond it. Previously, they had to use the Velachery flyover, take a u-turn to enter the service road and then reach the station entrance on the northern side, which was a detour and resulted in traffic chaos during rush hour. Despite the advantages it offers them, some commuters still prefer the old parking area, by sheer force of habit.
There are others who look at facts and numbers.
V. Ramya, who commutes from Nanganallur to Tidel Park, continues to leave her two-wheeler at the old parking area.
“Look at the number of vehicles the new parking area can accommodate; it is far less when compared to the old parking area,” she says, pointing to the hundreds of two-wheelers parked on the northern side.
Over 2,000 two-wheelers and over 50 four-wheelers can be parked at the main entrance on the northern side of the station. According to the parking contractor, the new parking area can accommodate over 600 two-wheelers and not many cars.
The solution obviously would be getting a parking contractor for the northern section too.
“Not having an authorised parking contractor on both sides of the station will affect the business of the new contractor as many will continue to leave their vehicles where no amount is collected,” says R. Sriram, who commutes between Medavakkam and Thirumayilai station.
According to the station master at Velachery, a tender for a new parking contractor for the northern section will be floated soon.
