The Hindu : Tambaram-Beach BG trains not up to the mark

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 14, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Tambaram-Beach BG trains not up to the mark

By P. Oppili

CHENNAI FEB. 13 . The focus is on modernisation of metro rail systems, but the existing BG EMU trains serving the city fall way below standards, when it comes to offering facilities.

Whether it is wooden seats in first class coaches, poor information systems in stations or even public conveniences at suburban stations, it is a raw deal for the traveller. What is worse, some passengers are confused by the coaches, because there is little to distinguish the first class from the rest. They face the embarrassment of being asked by other passengers to move out of the coach.

The first-class season ticket between Chennai Beach and Tambaram railway stations costs Rs. 440 a month and the quarterly rate is Rs. 1,195. Even after paying so much, the commuters are denied small luxuries they are entitled to, on the BG line.

When contacted, railway authorities said recently the Railway Board sent a circular to all railway zones to remove cushions, as offenders systematically remove them. As ensuring the integrity of the cushioned seats was difficult, the Railways thought it wise to remove the facility altogether.

A senior railway official said as far as the Tambaram-Beach MG EMU was concerned, they were operated only for a distance of 31 km (one way). The MG coaches, after completing the day's shuttle, would reach the shed at Tambaram, where chances of the seats getting damaged were remote. But in the case of BG EMUs, they were alternately operated between Gummidipoondi and Chennai Central and on the Chennai-Arakkonam section. So they are more exposed to vandalism, say the authorities. The seat cushions are removed and used for making wallets by culprits, claim the authorities.

On the Chennai division of the Southern Railway, the authorities have decided to re-introduce the cushioned seats in first class compartments. Already tenders have been floated and after finalising the bidder, refurbishing work will begin, says a senior officer.

The MRTS services are no better in offering a better quality of travel. The entire system cries out for immediate attention of the authorities. A common complaint from commuters is that the electronic information boards in the stations are not functioning properly. In stations between Tirumailai and Chintadripet, except at Tirumailai, the boards in other stations display only `Welcome' and its Tamil equivalent, `Nalvaravu'.

Another common complaint is the delayed arrival of trains during late evening hours. Invariably, the 8.26 p.m. service at Chintadripet, heading to Tirumailai arrives very late. Those who depend on this service are put to hardship as no announcements are made about the late arrival/cancellation of a particular train, complain the commuters. The clerk issuing ticket at the counter is operating the display board at Chintadripet. Most of the time he may not be aware of the arrival and departure of trains, hence the boards are not operated properly, say the railway authorities.

Having spent so much on creating a massive infrastructure, the time has come for the railway authorities to attend to small issues concerning commuter amenities. Otherwise, the railways could lose a satisfied customer base, and a profile as a modern transit operator, say users.

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